CITY councillor Neville Wright is surprised by a claim that he was contacted by the Rivers and Red Gum Environment Alliance regarding a possible meeting.

Alliance secretary, Max Rheese, claimed this week that the Rural City of Wangaratta was the only one of 11 municipalities along the Murray River to refuse the request for a meeting with his group.

The alliance wants to put its views on the draft recommendations put forward by the Victorian Environmental Assessment Council regarding land management along the river and its tributaries.

It claims the recommendations will have substantial detrimental affects on communities such as Wangaratta.

Mr Rheese said that he had contacted Cr Wright and Cr Ron Webb in regard to council’s refusal to grant the alliance a hearing, but that he had never heard back from Cr Wright.

A surprised Cr Wright said yesterday, however, that he had never been contacted by Mr Rheese.