PORT Macquarie-Hastings Council is at loggerheads with state MP Leslie Williams over library funding.
On Sunday, the Nationals MP expressed her disappointment at the council for not applying for a State Government grant for library development.
Mrs Williams claimed Port Macquarie-Hastings Council was the only municipality on the Mid-North Coast not to receive funding.
“Unfortunately, despite claiming that the State Government doesn’t fund libraries well enough, Port Macquarie-Hastings Council failed to apply for a share of a $2.5 million funding grant,” Mrs Williams said.
But a livid council slammed the claims.
“Port Macquarie-Hastings Council is calling on Leslie Williams to issue an apology following an incorrect media statement regarding library funding grants,” the council said in a statement.
“Contrary to Mrs Williams’ statement, in November 2012 Port Macquarie-Hastings Council and Kempsey Shire Council submitted a joint application to the Country Library Funds for a contribution of $40,765 to the ’Virtual Access @ Your Library’ project.
“Council have yet to be formally advised of the status of the grant application, but library staff were subjected to media criticism from the state MP for not applying for funding.”
Mayor Peter Besseling said Mrs Williams owed council and library staff an apology for her false public criticism.
“Leslie Williams also owes the community a valid explanation why state funding to our library was denied, when over $700,000 was given to electorates directly north and south of Port Macquarie,” he said.
Cr Besseling said Great Lakes and Greater Taree councils submitted a joint application for a similar e-resources project and received $73,061 in grant funding.
Yesterday, Mrs Williams sent out a statement, claiming the list of applicants did list Port Macquarie-Hastings Council.
“I thank council for clarifying their position on library funding,” she said.
“The list of applicants supplied to me does not identify Port Macquarie-Hastings Council as applying for any funding grant.
“It was the lack of seeing Port Macquarie-Hastings Council identified as an applicant that I found hard to believe given council’s previous statement on library funding.
“At no time was I critical of the staff of our local libraries, on the contrary I stated that that the library staff do a fantastic job and my opinion on their performance has not changed.”
