BY KRYSTYNA POLLARD 21 Jul, 2010 09:44 AM
Blackmail allegations have been reported to police after a letter threatening to release sensitive personal information was received by Clr Mark Greenhill in relation to the Springwood town centre controversy.
In what was the third complaint to be lodged with police by a councillor following the June 22 council meeting held on the town centre issue, the letter referred to information which would be released to Clr Greenhill's wife from what the author stated was "a shitfile" [sic] on him.
"You come for any of the Councilors [sic] who spoke up for the community last week and you will regret it," the June 29 letter stated.
"We know how you work and await your attacks.
"We have a shitfile on you Greenhill that will make your wife blush."
The letter then went on to list sensitive personal information.
Clr Greenhill reported the incident to police last Wednesday, July 14 after receiving the letter the previous night at a councillors' briefing session.
"Call this one what it is; it is an attempt to blackmail me in order to stop me engaging fully in the debate under a threat to the harmony of my family, including my three children," he said.
"I have never seen anything like this in 20 years of activism in the Mountains.
"If they thought, and I don't know who wrote this, that this would cause me to hide under a bushel they have made a major miscalculation and don't know me as well as they think.
"Those people in the community who think it is legitimate to use personal abuse rather than the issue itself will now be held to account."
Clr Greenhill's complaint comes on the back of police reports lodged by Ward 3 councillors Daniel Myles and Alison McLaren, alleging they were verbally abused and threatened following the June 22 meeting.
A complaint has also been lodged with the NSW Ombudsman by the opposing side of the debate relating to councillors' behaviour on the issue.
Clr Greenhill said it should be remembered councillors had simply voted at the meeting to "put this issue to the people so they can decide it".