Sludgegate Newsflash Friday, 1 December 2000

"A 'Free Radical' On-line exclusive"

Stolen Sludgegate Document Revealed

An important trial document has just been made available to this reporter, in which council Utilities Manager Mike McQuillan makes it clear he wanted "to dump sludge - even only one truck load on [the] Golf Course."

Council's legal team accused a witness - a former City Design manager - of "stealing" the document, and then stole it from him! In a highly charged court room the witness protested that the document was his, and he wanted it back. Justice Chambers ordered it be returned to him. Clearly, this is a document council don't want exposed.

The document, which the witness made available to this reporter, was a file note he had written of a council meeting in March 1998 to discuss Waiheke Island Sludge Disposal - and just one of a number of relevant documents he said council should have made available to Chisholm's lawyer. The document records that "all agreed Golf Course site is not the best site" to dump the island's sludge, yet the witness recounts that "as if from a dream" Utilities Manager Mike McQuillan "woke up," and violently disagreed. The minute records his "no to . suggestion not to dump on Golf Course" and that he "stressed that he wanted to dump sludge - even only one truck load on Golf Course."

That dumping site was immediately adjacent to Adrian Chisholm's former boundary.

This reporter, for one, looks forward to hearing Mike McQuillan in the witness box to explain his comment. The document will shortly be passed to Chisholm's lawyer. The case continues Monday.

ENDS

For further information please contact: Peter Cresswell THE FREE RADICAL (025) 861 927 e-mail: organon@ihug.co.nz

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