Former Eurobodalla Shire Council mayor Liz Innes caught growing 78 cannabis plants

A former NSW mayor busted cultivating a huge cannabis crop worth hundreds of thousands of dollars made an astonishing remark about her handiwork to police raiding her property, a court has heard.

Former Eurobodalla Shire Mayor, Liz Innes was caught growing 78 cannabis plants worth more than $240,000. Picture: Facebook.

A former NSW mayor busted cultivating $258,400 worth of cannabis plants at her home said she was “happy” with the mature, extensive crop, a court has heard.

Former Eurobodalla Shire Council mayor Liz Innes, 54, faced Moruya Local Court represented by Keely Boom on Friday, where she pleaded guilty to cultivating cannabis and possessing cannabis after police raided her Runnyford property on February 5.

Agreed facts tendered to Batemans Bay Local Court state police were patrolling Runnyford, west of Batemans Bay, in search of a wanted person unrelated to Innes.

Rather than finding their suspect, police stumbled on an “obvious” large cannabis crop at an address which was later identified as Innes’ home.

Police ultimately seized 76 plants ranging from 2cm to 30cm in height, with an approximate street value of up to $258,400.

“Police inquired about the plants and the female stated ‘they are mine’,” agreed police facts state.

“The accused made comment on how good of a job she had done growing these plants at around this time.”

Agreed facts stated Innes was initially “annoyed and belligerent” while speaking with police and, at one point, informed the officers she was the former mayor of the Eurobodalla Shire Council.

The former Eurobodalla Shire Mayor informed police she was “happy” with her mature crop. Picture: File.

Described as “healthy”, police entered the plot full of “copious” potted plants varying in maturity.

“They were planted in pots, garden beds and a tree stump and obviously well cared for, with several having the branches spread with string and rocks to improve growth,” police stated.

Police stated Innes was “more courteous” when they began to remove her plants.

Innes then informed police she planted, watered and cared for the plants in their various growing apparatuses, and that she intended to harvest them in the coming months for her family to use.

The plants were taken to Batemans Bay police station, where they were counted and their value was determined to be between $129,000 and $258,400.

According to the agreed facts, police also state: “Police are of the firm belief that the amount of plants cultivated and in the possession of the accused is excessive for personal use.”

At Moruya Local Court, Magistrate Doug Dick ordered a sentencing assessment report before adjourning Innes’ matter for sentence to February 27 at Batemans Bay Local Court.

In 2021, Innes informed local media she did not intend to run for re-election for council after being mayor since 2016 and a councillor since 2012.

Instead, she intended to run for Liberal preselection for the state seat of Bega after Andrew Constance resigned.

Innes also made the news in 2022 when she participated in the anti Covid-19 vaccine protest ‘Convoy to Canberra’.

In a statement to local Canberra media at the time, Innes said “this is the start of the people’s revolution”.