Monumental problem that won't go away
BY STACEY VANOSKA
AN appeal to the NSW Ombudsman over a possible conflict of interest by some Fairfield councillors was dismissed last week.
Bossley Park resident Adem Cetinay wrote to the NSW Ombudsman and the Department of Local Government last year after Fairfield Council approved a 4.5metre-tall Assyrian genocide monument, despite some councillors having a close relationship with the organisation campaigning for the statue the Assyrian Universal Alliance (AUA).
Mr Cetinay said his letter of appeal outlined "in great detail" how councillors, including deputy mayor Anwar Khoshaba, were involved with the AUA and how he believed this would influence their vote.
A NSW Ombudsman spokeswoman would not answer specific questions about the complaint but said: "We have finalised the matter and have been directly in touch with the complainant in regards to the findings."
Mr Cetinay said the response he received from the ombudsman didn't resolve the complaint.
"The response basically told me that I had to complain directly to the council's general manager, as the matter is a code of conduct issue," he said.
"I don't think this process is very good; the general manager can't be impartial."
Mr Cetinay said he did send a written letter of complaint to the general manager, Alan Young, but was still awaiting a reply.
"There has also been no response from the Department of Local Government... our next step will be fighting this in the Land and Environment Court," he said.
"The Turkish community is rallying together against the monument, and we need that kind of support because this is going to be a lengthy and expensive process."
Fairfield's Turkish community has opposed the genocide memorial since it was first proposed because "the monument is a memorial for a genocide that is not officially recognised", Mr Cetinay said.
The monument was approved by Fairfield Council in December under the condition that the AUA pay for the $70,000 structure and its upkeep.
The alliance has since called for donations for the monument's construction.
"Why didn't the organisation have to show they had the funds to build it before it was approved?" Mr Cetinay asked.
"If they can't even afford to build it, how are they going to maintain it?"