MidCoast Council’s Peter Epov in NSW Supreme Court fight in wake of organisation’s DEPA Golden Turd awards

A stink over the Golden Turd award given to a Mid-North Coast council two years in a row for the crappiest human resources in local government has hit NSW’s highest court. Here’s the latest.

MidCoast councillor Peter Epov spoke out about the Golden Turd award being given to the organisation recently. The regional NSW council was not pleased.

A stink over the Golden Turd award given to MidCoast Council two years in a row for the most s--t human resources in local government has reached NSW’s highest court.

When councillor Peter Epov became aware of the dubious honour, he spoke out about the issue and raised a question on notice before a February council meeting.

The Golden Turd is ‘awarded’ by the Development and Environmental Professionals’ Association – a union with members at the council.

According to the association’s research leading up to bestowing the title in December last year, MidCoast Council had 300 resignations in the 12 months prior.

Mr Epov said his question was an opportunity for general manager Adrian Panuccio to clarify the situation, but was “astonished” when he was told the matter was confidential.

The Development and Environmental Professionals' Association has awarded MidCoast Council the Golden Turd award for the second year in a row for the worst human resources record in local government.

“The question did not refer to any specific individual, or any personal matters,” Mr Epov said.

With the matter deemed confidential, MidCoast Council initiated an investigation, which found Mr Epov breached council’s Code of Conduct by sharing information about the award.

“I strongly dispute any breach of confidentiality as this is public information which was published in a number of articles by DEPA to its members and subscribers throughout the state between 2022 and December 2023,” Mr Epov said.

“Further, these are circumstances that all residents should be concerned about where their council has a poor reputation on industrial relations.”

The matter has now moved to the NSW Supreme Court and Mr Epov has been fighting the council’s move to censure him.

He believes he has “very strong prospects of winning”, but said it was an “expensive and daunting task”.

MidCoast Council was approached for comment, but a spokesperson declined because the matter is before the court.

MidCoast Council general manager Adrian Panuccio.

The case was briefly heard on June 11 with defendants listed as both Midcoast Council and Paul Quealey in his capacity of conduct reviewer appointed by the council.

The case is due to return to the court for a directions hearing on July 2.

In a similar case in May this year, the Supreme Court overturned Kiama council’s decision to censure a councillor Karen Renkema-Lang for speaking to the media.

That council will now have to pay the councillor’s legal fees on top of its own costs, more than $400,000, which is a path that Mr Epov intends to take if he wins.

Mr Epov has served as a councillor since 2012 – for Greater Taree before it was amalgamated with Great Lakes and Gloucester Councils to form MidCoast in 2016.

He said the recent censure motion has significantly impacted him and he was reconsidering his decision to run at the next election in September.

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