This was demanded of the council by far-left activist group Extinction Rebellion. The Hound has been informed that Ecan chair Steve Lowndes is actually a paid-up member of Extinction Rebellion.
While Lowndes excused himself from the vote, it does highlight the obvious conflict of interest. Perhaps the auditor-general should be called in to rule on this conflict.
You often hear Greenpeace and/or Fish & Game demanding the auditor-general investigate farmer-councillors when local councils back irrigation schemes, even when these farmer-councillors do not have a direct benefit or pecuniary interest in the schemes.
