VICTORIA'S Local Government Minister has been accused of not knowing where Wodonga is, after replying to an email from the city's Ratepayers Association with a reference to his Melbourne electorate.
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The association's secretary FJ O'Grady wrote to minister Adem Somyurek in the wake of state Upper House MP Tim Quilty airing concerns in parliament last month about Wodonga Council's management.
"Minister you said "You have faith in the integrity of the system and would encourage the local community to complain to start the ball rolling",' Mr O'Grady wrote.
"Minister, we need help to bring back public confidence in Wodonga City Council."
Mr O'Grady then raised the council's waste management fee overcharging, confidentiality surrounding pool tile repairs and transparency with councillors unable to see contracts.
The email response from the address adem.somyurek@parliament.vic.gov.au emerged as an automatic reply stating if the issue related to local government please resend it to another address or phone.
It also noted: "If your issue relates to the South Eastern Metropolitan electorate my electoral office will consider your request and respond accordingly."
Association president Ian Deegan tabled the correspondence from March at Tuesday night's autumn meeting and chipped Mr Somyurek.
"I mean the man doesn't know where we are," Mr Deegan said after reading the reference to the Melbourne electorate.
He said the association would now resend the letter via email, mail and fax "so he'll get it three ways".
Mr Quilty, who attended Tuesday night's meeting, told The Border Mail afterwards he was yet to meet Mr Somyurek one-on-one to elaborate on his concerns raised in parliament.
He hopes to get that opportunity when sittings resume in May.
Mr Quilty told the Legislative Council he wanted an investigation into the council.