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Stymied: Rockdale Mayor Shane O'Brien says the money from the car park sale will be used to pay for a $35 million aquatic centre and a $17 million library. Photo: John Veage

A mayor has accused his political opponents of holding him to political ransom, after they have repeatedly walked out of meetings in an attempt to stop a $50-million carpark sale.

Rockdale Council has received an offer of $48 million for its Chapel Street car park, significantly more than its book value of $12 million, mayor Shane O'Brien said.

But on Wednesday night, council's six Liberals and one independent did not attend the meeting to approve the sale. It was abandoned due to a lack of quorum.

It is the sixth time that this has happened since September, councillors said and every time it has coincided with the car park sale being on the agenda.

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"I wouldn't mind if they just voted it down," Cr O'Brien said. "But for some reason they're walking out or not showing up. They're trying to create a sense of crisis and holding ratepayers to ransom."

The mayor says the money worth about two-thirds of council's yearly income would be used to pay for two major planned pieces of infrastructure: a $35 million aquatic centre and a $17 million library.

Council voted unanimously for the library, construction of which will soon be underway, and a motion to invite businesses to tender for a new aquatic centre passed without opposition in May.

The old, leaking Bexley pool has been closed.

See the article here:
Rockdale Council: Liberals 'holding ratepayers to ransom'