Probe launched into Botany council deal with airport
A PROBE has been launched into a deal struck between Sydney Airport and the corrupt former Botany council.
Southern Courier
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A PROBE has been launched into a deal struck between Sydney Airport and the corrupt former Botany council.
It is estimated the five year contract for cleaning and maintenance for the airport’s grounds may have cost ratepayers up to $12 million, Channel 7 has reported.
In 2015 Sydney Airport bosses handed the cleaning contract to Botany Council — now Bayside Council — for $16 million.
However, the contract should have been valued at around $28 million over the five years, Channel 7 said.
This has left a shortfall of $12 million.
Greg White, the former administrator of Bayside Council, said the deal equated to ratepayers paying Sydney Airport Corporation $1,000 a year over a decade.
Bayside Mayor Bill Saravinovski said the deal was “outrageous” and he has asked the Independent Commission against Corruption (ICAC) to investigate.
ICAC has previously found that there was widespread corruption at Botany Council over a number of years.
Ben Keneally, who was Botany mayor at the time, said he and fellow councillors had acted on the advice of others.
He said they had been deceived by the “collusive and corrupt” behaviour of others.
Sydney Airport said it was wrong to claim ratepayers pay for services provided by Bayside Council.
“The council currently manages Sydney Airport’s grounds maintenance under a commercial contract to ensure the airport continues to remain safe and tidy,” a spokesman added.
For more on this story see next week’s Southern Courier.