Karuah Local Aboriginal Land Council chief executive and MidCoast Council councillor, Len Roberts was charged with assault during a dispute over the relocation of the land council’s headquarters on Tuesday, July 24.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Police were called to the Karuah Aboriginal Mission when Mr Roberts was attempting to remove items from the administration office and take them to the new office at Tea Gardens.
While the board had previously approved the office’s relocation, members voted last week to overturn the decision.
Mr Roberts said the office move was designed to situate the land council’s headquarters in a more central location to its activities, which included the establishment of a shop in Tea Gardens.
“We also have a long waiting list for people who want to live in houses on the mission,” he said.
NSW Aboriginal Land Council registrar Nicole Courtman has been asked to attend a meeting of the Karuah Land Council on August 6 to help resolve the dispute.
Matthew Kelly
Matthew Kelly has worked as a journalist for more than 25 years. He has been working as a general reporter at the Newcastle Herald since 2018. In recent years he has reported on subjects including environment, energy, water security, manufacturing and higher education. He has previously covered issues including the health and environmental impacts of uncovered coal wagons in the Hunter Valley, the pollution of legacy of former industrial sites and freedom of information issues.
Matthew Kelly has worked as a journalist for more than 25 years. He has been working as a general reporter at the Newcastle Herald since 2018. In recent years he has reported on subjects including environment, energy, water security, manufacturing and higher education. He has previously covered issues including the health and environmental impacts of uncovered coal wagons in the Hunter Valley, the pollution of legacy of former industrial sites and freedom of information issues.
