Group implodes after cash row

THE Bargara Progress Association imploded on Wednesday night at its annual general meeting amid acrimonious scenes over the decision to donate $20,000 to build a wading pool.

The money had been handed over to the Coral Coast Chamber of Commerce and Tourism on Tuesday.

Association member Jim Torkington was particularly vocal in his opposition to the handover, arguing the association should have kept control of the money.

Mr Torkington, a former president of the association, said yesterday the pool, mooted for Bargara, had not been approved by Bundaberg Regional Council or the State Government, and he believed it was not likely to.

He said the $20,000 was now in the hands of the chamber "courtesy of an inept management committee".

Mr Torkington described Wednesday night as "a loud and angry meeting".

He said he planned to get legal advice to see how the money could be recovered.

Andrea McGrath, who was acting as association president on Wednesday night, said the body was now suspended pending legal advice.

At the meeting, people who had nominated for the management committee withdrew their nominations, and there were no other nominations.

Ms McGrath said the agreement with the chamber was that the money could only be used for the pool.

"(Critics of the money handover) didn't want to understand," she said.

"They were against the pool from the start."

Ms McGrath said members did not want the association to close, but they were in limbo pending advice on what should happen next.

Chamber president Greg Barnes said the money had been handed over because there were fears the association was about to fold and the chamber would not be able to access the funds.

He said there was a written agreement the money should only be kept in a dedicated account, it could only be used for the pool and had to be handed back to the association if work had not started by the end of December 2014.

If approval for the pool was turned down, the money would also be handed back.