Probe into Lake Bennett resort restaurant over food claims

FOODBANK has launched an investigation into former CLP candidate Carolyn Reynolds’ company HELP NT for allegedly selling food obtained for charitable purposes at her Lake Bennett Resort restaurant

FOODBANK has launched an investigation into former CLP candidate Carolyn Reynolds’ company HELP NT for allegedly selling food obtained for charitable purposes at her Lake Bennett Resort restaurant.

According to ASIC documents, HELP NT was never registered as a charity and was in fact deregistered as a company in March this year.

Former CLP candidate Carolyn Reynolds.

However, the company continued to trade with Foodbank as late as August 30, other documents have shown.

The investigation comes on the same day the NT News revealed Ms Reynolds, who ran for the CLP in last month’s election, had been cited by the Health Department for alleged serious food safety and cleanliness issues at the restaurant known as Eagle Nest at Lake Bennett.

It is understood Foodbank NT chief executive Peter Fisher was shown evidence of possible wrongdoing yesterday and took swift action. “Foodbank NT is investigating allegations that one of its clients, HELP NT, has breached its guidelines regarding the distribution of food,” he said in a statement.

There are strict rules for clients of the Foodbank, especially that they not “sell, barter or exchange food for money”.

“Foodbank NT has suspended HELP NT’s affiliation until further investigations have been conducted,” Mr Fisher said. Ms Reynolds had been obtaining food at a heavily reduced cost on an almost weekly basis, telling the organisation the food was used to feed youngsters as part of children’s camps she hosted at the resort.

A number of former employees came forward yesterday to say that was not true.

“She’s been buying food from the Foodbank and selling it to customers at the lake,” one said. Ms Reynolds said she “essentially” gave free food to kids and denied that she sold any of the food at the restaurant.

She also said she was not aware her company had been deregistered and that she was acting as the sole proprietor.

But she did say that she put some Foodbank food out for pensioners for a flat fee of $5 a bag. “When I have gone to Foodbank, sometimes there have been things left over that we can’t actually utilise,” she said.

Mr Fisher said she had requested to sell the food at the resort in this way but was told that was not appropriate.

Ms Reynolds also said yesterday she charged children’s groups money for activities at the lake that included food.

She denied other allegations that she paid employees in cash only and that some were still owed payment for services.

In 2012, a Fair Work complaint against HELP NT resulted in Ms Reynolds “voluntarily” back-paying an employee $4823.