Mayor and majority of councillors back call for investigation into bullying allegations at Port Stephens koala hospital

Port Stephens mayor Ryan Palmer said he supported Cr Ken Jordan's call for an inquiry, which was subsequently backed by others on the 10-person council including Jaime Abbott, Chris Doohan, Glen Dunkley, Paul Le Mottee and Sarah Smith.

Although the council management said on Friday that any complaints were a matter for Port Stephens Koalas, not the council, Cr Palmer said he believed the council needed to intervene in this case because the koala hospital had a service agreement with the council, and because the council and the state had put millions of dollars into the operation.

IN THE NEWS:

Mr Land denies any wrongdoing, and said he welcomed an inquiry. "Bring it on," he said on Sunday, adding that the only formal complaints he knew of were anonymous and dealt with at the time by the board.

Mr Land was well-known in his working life as a district secretary of the Mine Workers Union and chairman of the industry body Coal Services.

He said he and his wife Marion retired to Port Stephens and became volunteer carers at Port Stephens Koalas.

SCOTT BEVAN PODCAST with RON LAND

Mr Land said he had done most of the work to design the new koala hospital and its surrounding enclosures, and to lobby for funds to have them built.

Mr Land acknowledged some conflict within the organisation since he arrived in 2015 and the hospital began its period of "rapid expansion".

He categorically denied any allegation of poor care of koalas at the centre.

He said that some "former and present" volunteers were unhappy with the way the One Mile Beach operation had grown and become more professional, because that meant that ill or injured koalas were now cared for at the hospital and its surrounding grounds, rather than in carer's homes.

Mr Land also said the "world of volunteer animal rescue" was rife with conflict, and referred to a Sydney Morning Herald investigation last year that raised concerns about "jealous rivalries" between wildlife rescue organisations.

He suggested similar forces were at play.

KOALA FILE:

"This is one of the worst examples of wildlife politics," Mr Land said on Sunday.

"Disgruntled individuals no longer ruling the roost and making untrue allegations."

He confirmed five koalas at the hospital had suffered a "mystery respiratory illness" but denied allegations it had been "covered up", saying it was openly discussed across a Facebook page for the hospital's volunteers, who now numbered about 170.

The people who spoke last week with the Newcastle Herald said they were concerned about the koalas, while Mr Land said he was being attacked politically.

His critics said they had initially contacted Cr Jordan after he criticised the appointment of Port Stephens businesswoman Leah Anderson - who is Labor's Port Stephens mayoral candidate - as Port Stephens Koala CEO.

The Herald reported on this in late August.

Mr Land justified choosing Ms Anderson, on the board at the time, without advertising the job.

Last Tuesday's Port Stephens council meeting heard Ms Anderson would no longer be paid for the role.

Cr Jordan said people unhappy with the way the koala hospital was being run began contacting him after that article.

"In all my years on council I have never had anything like this," Cr Jordan said on Friday.

"People breaking down on the phone, saying 'Thank God, someone is finally listening to us', it's been extraordinary.

"Since Tuesday night's meeting my phone has blown up with volunteers, animal welfare advocates coming forward, sharing their experiences with me," Mr Jordan said.

Some had told him they had complained to the organisation, to the council and to the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment, but that they had been ignored.

"I am calling for a full inquiry to shine a light into the operations, appointments and governance of the koala hospital," Cr Jordan said.

"It is time for Ron Land to do the right thing, and step down."

Mr Land said he would welcome any inquiry but would not be standing down.

He believed the hospital was the best koala facility in Australia.

Volunteer John Townsend of Salamander, a retired vet, said he believed the hospital gave great care and was well run and he had "no concerns".

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: