It comes as his motives were questioned at a town hall meeting about the class action against Wodonga Council.

Former Strategic Asset Manager Charlie Mitchell said his actions in contacting the Ombudsman were not self-serving, with Shine Lawyers confirming at the meeting he was not being paid.

Mr Mitchell said he was not a Wodonga ratepayer so would not be benefitting from the class action. 

“Doing the whistleblower thing is difficult because you are torn between the code of conduct as an employee and also protecting the public,” he said.

“I felt there was more of an onus to protect the public than the corporation who was doing, what I believe, was the wrong thing.”

“Seeing the trust lost with the community, it’s the trust the officers try to build with the community at the lower levels and it’s been destroyed at the top by not informing the public about what they’re actually doing in plain English.”

Wodonga Ratepayers’ Association president Ian Deegan was admonished at the meeting for “personal” questions about Mr Mitchell and the circumstances around him leaving council.

Earlier in the day, Mr Mitchell told The Border Mail he was dismissed from council, but felt vindicated by the Ombudsman report. 

“When I left council it was under a cloud and now the truth is getting out there,” he said. 

“The council continue to deny they’ve done anything wrong but the Ombudsman pointed out the act is clear – the waste levy is to be spent on the collection and disposal of refuse.

“They can’t deny they’ve spent money on other things that are not waste related.

“Yet council continues to stick its head in the sand, it’s unbelievable.”

Mr Mitchell called for WorkSafe or an administrator to investigate the unhealthy toxic conditions and way senior staff manages the mental well-being of employees. 

He said while the waste management levy was the current focus, it was only one part of a bigger cultural problem within council.

“It’s the culture that is one of the central issues to why we are here now, it’s not just this issue,” he said. 

“This is across council, across all decision making and it’s because of poor direction at the top.

“They try to paint a nice glossy picture, when it’s not all glossy.”

Mr Mitchell said he experienced a deterioration in his mental health during his time in council, and claimed he was not the only one. 

“I know quite a few people have left with mental health issues, I've had to take medication and I know other work colleagues have had it worse than myself,” he said.

“There’s an obligation on the organisation to support people who are going through or having difficulty at work but that is only provided to those people they deem, I don’t know, worth it.

“Council should have taken better care of their employees.”

Wodonga Council has said repeatedly it will not be further commenting on claims made against the organisation and its staff.