The NSW government "has to come and explain itself" about the Myuna Bay Sport and Recreation Centre closure, says Opposition sport spokesperson Lynda Voltz, who has questioned the length of time a review of the decision has taken.
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Ms Voltz has called on Sports Minister John Sidoti to explain former Office of Sport CEO Matt Miller's actions before the closure, after an ABC report - compiled from internal government documents - alleged the agency went against the advice of government experts in closing the centre.
The NSW Dams Safety Committee, which has been completing a review of Origin Energy's report that identified risks with Eraring power station's ash dam, told the Department of Industry before the closure on March 29 that immediate evacuation was not warranted.
"From the limited information we have been provided to date, we do not feel immediate evacuation is warranted, although it is not our decision to make," head of the committee Chris Salkovic said in an email a day before the closure.
Ms Voltz said an initial lack of public communication from the government about the closure had immediately led to suspicions among the local community.
But in light of the ABC report's claims, Ms Voltz said the government "at some stage, has to come and explain itself".
"Dams Safety NSW are the expertise, why is the Office of Sport ignoring the experts in the area in closing down this centre?," she said.
"Until the government starts showing some transparency in regards to Myuna Bay, and until they start releasing the reports and the documents that they based their decision to close it on, people are going to always think there is an underlying agenda by the government."
Ms Voltz said the closure and subsequent review had been an expensive exercise for the government, given staff remain on paid leave.
"It's not only costing the government, don't forget the casual staff have also lost their jobs and they're not receiving any compensation for that," she said.
"There are a whole raft of people who would normally work there that aren't getting money and then there's all the permanent staff sitting their waiting for the government to make a decision not knowing what their future is going to be.
"They deserve to know what their future is.
"As do the organisations who use the facilities, particularly schools and the local community. This actually provides jobs. Around Morisset, every job makes a difference."
A spokesman from Mr Sidoti's ministerial office would not confirm if the review had been finalised.
He said Mr Sidoti returns from leave on Monday.
Myuna Bay staff met with union officials on Thursday.
