They say the explanation given was a miscommunication.

The appointment of a new board had already been criticised after former Minister for Water, Property and Housing Melinda Pavey reconfigured the board numbers from seven (one of which was an ex-officio position for the AH and P) to five, two of which will be ex-officio positions for the AH and P.

AH and P executive secretary Brett Kenworthy, however, told the Western Advocate last month that there was "great merit" in the new model for the board of five members and two ex-officio positions.

He said the AH and P had supported the showground since 1878 and founded many of the organisations that continue to use it.

"The new model is unique and looks at how things can work for the Bathurst Showground," he told the Advocate.

He also said there were no grounds for concern of an AH and P takeover.

"The AH and P is an organisation which has spent in excess of 150 years developing the place, it's not about to do anything that will damage it," he said.

"If people have concerns, they should engage with the new board and engage with the AH and P."

IN OTHER NEWS AROUND BATHURST:

Current showground administrator Andrew Fletcher and Catholic Diocese financial administrator Patrick Cooper are two of three of those who received emails in December announcing their appointment to the board.

An hour later, they were told it was a mistake.

Mr Cooper said he spoke with an area manager from the relevant department afterwards who informed him the interview panel had recommended three people to the minister's office for the positions, however, the minister's office had not accepted that recommendation.

"Those three people who were recommended, appointed and then unappointed were Andrew Fletcher, Daryl Grant and myself," he said.

With his background in financial administration as well as previous roles in senior positions at Essential Energy, Mr Cooper said he was at a loss as to how they could get someone with better experience.

"I don't know what's gone on in the minister's office and I think it's very unusual," he said.

IN OTHER NEWS AROUND BATHURST:

He said he had also asked "how or why it was necessary to have two ex-officio members of the five-person board who were members of the AH and P".

"Why would you have effectively the tenants on the board?" he asked.

He said it was also put to the minister's office to reinstate the seven-person board so there was a greater level of skill, but the recommendation was declined.

"The only reason I applied to be on the board was I was genuinely interested in ensuring that the showground was provided for the maximum benefit of the community of Bathurst," he said.

"While the Bathurst Show is an important stakeholder, the show goes for three days a year and the showground is an asset for the whole community."

He said he wanted to know on what basis the minister overruled the recommendations put forward by the panel.

"Applications were run, there was a panel, there were interviews, there was recommendation from the panel," he said.

Mr Cooper said he, Mr Fletcher and Mr Grant were all extremely experienced.

"And I would point out, this is a voluntary position," he said.

Mr Fletcher said he too asked Crown Lands how the appointment error had happened.

He also said he did not understand the minister's decision to reduce the community membership on the board from six to three.

"The Bathurst community again rallied to the call for board members and I believe there were 11 community members interviewed, which adds to the confusion as to why the Land Manager is being reduced from a seven-member board to a five-member board.

"I am confident that all will become clear once I hear back from Crown Lands."

The Western Advocate sought a response from Melinda Pavey's office about the board appointments.

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