Greyhound Racing NSW CEO Tony Mestrov says it is time for both sides of the growing dispute over the future of Dapto Dogs to face the public.
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On Monday afternoon, Mr Mestrov called for Dapto Agricultural and Horticultural Society bosses to join him at a community forum with him "to set the record straight about all matters surrounding the Dapto Greyhound Racing Club".
"I think it's time to be in the same room and answer questions from the media and community in a local forum," Mestrov said.
"If either the DAHS Chairman Noel Leslie or CEO Katrina Novak have nothing to hide, then they will stand alongside me and answer any questions posed."
Mr Mestrov has proposed the forum be open to all members of the local community and the media, and said it could be held at a Dapto venue.
The showground owners said they welcomed the chance to engage with the community, but said the battle between the two parties needed to play out in court first.
"This is yet another stunt by Tony Mestrov, just like his recent press conference in Dapto where he breezed in from Sydney, and made a range of completely unsupported allegations about the Dapto A and H Society to further his campaign of bullying and intimidation," the society said in a statement.
"We welcome the opportunity to engage with the local community, of which he is not a member, however given the matter is before the courts (at his initiative) we need to let that process play out first."
Also on Monday, Mr Mestrov refuted a suggestion, made at the weekend in statements by Ms Novak, that the state industry body was trying to take over land owned by the society.
"We only became involved when the DAHS suddenly announced that greyhound racing was to cease at the venue in early November," he said.
"We could not let that happen, and have from that moment fought to keep the iconic Dapto Dogs racing."
"We do not want to take over the place as it has been suggested, but feel the community deserves to know the truth, and that's why I am willing to stand up, alongside someone from the DAHS and tell the truth and answer all questions."
"We should not forget, and what can't be underestimated here, is that GRNSW has funded the Society with several millions of dollars over the years," he said.
Kate McIlwain
For more than a decade, I've helped the Illawarra Mercury set the news agenda across the region. Currently I'm the paper's health reporter - covering the stories of Illawarra workers and residents in the wake of a global pandemic and at a time where our health systems are stretched to the limit.
For more than a decade, I've helped the Illawarra Mercury set the news agenda across the region. Currently I'm the paper's health reporter - covering the stories of Illawarra workers and residents in the wake of a global pandemic and at a time where our health systems are stretched to the limit.
