The ongoing dispute, about the nearly three-month late payment to the CMNC, was resolved through a meeting held in Port Macquarie on Thursday, February 9 and the intervention of member for Port Macquarie Leslie Williams.

Ms Williams arranged for executive director Learning, High Performance and Accountability with the NSW Department of Education Dail McGilchrist to meet with members of board of the CMNC, staff and interested members of the public at CMNC’s Port Macquarie Campus to discuss the non-payment of a bill for over $160,000.00 owed to CMNC from the department. 

At the meeting, both Ms Williams and Ms McGilchrist reiterated their ongoing and strong commitment to the continuance of such a thriving conservatorium on the Mid North Coast and their wish to see a speedy and successful resolution to this issue. Ms McGilchrist on behalf of the Department of Education agreed to pay the money owed to CMNC by February 28 2017.

“The CMNC board wishes to thank Leslie Williams for her support and encouragement and Dail McGilchrist for her negotiation and commitment to honour the agreement for the payment of the debt,” said a CMNC spokesperson. 

Until the money is received, CMNC assures its students it will continue to make every effort to minimise the effects of the delayed payment for its clients, students and residents of Port Macquarie, Taree, Forster, Gloucester and Kempsey.