Willunga golfers outraged by council paying for CEO’s membership
Members at Onkaparinga Council’s Willunga clubs are upset the course’s 18 holes might be cut in half while council CEO Mark Dowd holds a membership at prestigious Kooyonga Golf Club, fully funded by the council.
According to avid golfer John Firth, Willunga is battling a $500,000 deficit while the council has secretly been paying Dowd’s $6800 “establishment” membership fee.
“This is a good golf course, and if the council is paying then they should be paying to play here,’’ Mr Firth said, adding: “Mr Dowd should have joined this club.”
The outbreak erupted after The Advertiser exclusively revealed the Onkaparinga Council had come under stern criticism from State Ombudsman Wayne Lines for paying the fee at the Kooyonga Golf Club in Lockleys and then attempting to hide it from ratepayers.
The Ombudsman made no criticism of Mr Dowd, whose annual salary is $328,000, and made no comment on whether the money should be repaid, and made a finding that there was no maladministration by the council in the repayment.
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