LAKE Macquarie mayor Kay Fraser wants the NSW government to "come clean" and release a review which it on Thursday used to justify the closure of Myuna Bay Sport and Recreation Centre.
The mayor joined the chorus of stakeholders calling for the document to be made public on Friday, criticising the government for leaving the council out of discussions before announcing the site would be condemned.
"The centre closed initially when the government was in caretaker mode and now this final decision is made a couple of weeks out from Christmas," she said.
"I am really disappointed as the mayor I have not been consulted by the government or advised of this decision.
"Again the community on the western side of the lake is kept in the dark."
Conspiracy theories about why the site has been shut have been echoing throughout the community since the centre was closed without warning in late March.
The Office of Sport and Origin Energy were widely criticised for a lack of communication regarding the initial closure, with not one representative from either party fronting the media.
The community's doubts flared again in September when leading Australian geo-technical engineer, Dr Philip Pells, labelled the closure "totally irrational" and "ill considered" after analysing technical documents detailing the concerns with the ash dam wall.
The retired University of NSW professor said it was "illogical to the point of being bizarre" and if the state government stood by its decision to close the centre due to earthquake risk, "we should also abandon society".
Cr Fraser said in light of the community's questions about the closure, the latest review needed to be released.
"I call on the state government to disclose all documents so the community knows exactly the risks and the reasons why this decision has been made so close to Christmas," she said.
"This centre has been closed now for several months with staff languishing waiting on their future. It is now time for this state government to come clean and release all the documents."
Cr Fraser's comments follow Labor's sport spokesperson Lynda Voltz questioning the promised new centre.
Acting sports minister Geoff Lee said on Thursday a "like-for-like" facility would be built in south-west Lake Macquarie "100 per cent" funded by Eraring Power Station owner Origin Energy.
Ms Voltz said the lack of detail about a new centre raised concerns it would become a drawn-out project.
"We've heard this 'like for like' replacement argument before when the government demolished Parramatta Pool, for which there is still no replacement and three years later not one sod of dirt has been turned," she said.
