Rachael Jane Hockey, of Thomas Mitchell Crescent, was arrested on Thursday as part of “Strike Force Nello”, which formed in May 2015 to investigate the supply of the drug “ice” and cannabis in the Batemans Bay area.

She was charged with five offences including supplying a prohibited drug on an ongoing basis, two counts of supplying a prohibited drug, supplying a prohibited drug in an indictable quantity and participating in a criminal group contributing to criminal activity.

In court on Friday morning, Senior Constable Nathan Lamming said Batemans Bay Police opposed Ms Hockey’s bail application.

He said police had a “very strong case” against Ms Hockey, which included physical and electronic surveillance.

The court heard it was alleged Ms Hockey was responsible for “a large volume of the street supply” within the local community, which had a “significant impact”.

Mr Lamming told the court police had concerns that if released the accused would pose a “danger to the community” as she could continue to supply the drug.

“Police will allege the accused has supplied at least 241 times within a six-week period,” Mr Lamming told the court.

“Police believe we have a very strong prosecution case and that the accused is a potential flight risk because of previous occurrences.”

Mr Lamming said Ms Hockey had a previous conviction of supplying a prohibited drug for which she received a two-and-a-half-year custodial sentence.

He also said there was a “high likelihood” she would receive a long custodial sentence for the offences before the court.

Ms Lamming opposed bail but said if it was granted strict conditions should be imposed, including a curfew “based on intelligence the offences were conducted during the evening including drug runs as well as supplying”.

Ms Hockey’s defence counsel, Geoff Knox, submitted that police evidence was “all circumstantial” at this stage.

He said Ms Hockey had “very close ties to the community” and pointed out that she was supported by her son, daughter, mother and sister in court.

The court heard Ms Hockey was unemployed and had a drug dependency but co-owned her Sunshine Bay home with her ex-husband.

Mr Knox said the risk of ongoing offences was “minimal”, given that she had been arrested and charged, and there was no basis to concerns she could be a flight risk, given there were no allegations of breaching bail on her record.

He Knox said there was a significant brief of evidence to be prepared by police, which was expected to take some time.

“I would say it would be unconscionable for the accused to stay in custody for that period of time,” he said.

Mr Knox also told the court Ms Hockey’s family was investigating drug rehabilitation options.

He said if bail was refused, it was likely Ms Hockey would again apply to be bailed to a rehab facility “in the near future”.

Batemans Bay Local Court registrar and authorised bail justice, Virginia Scanlon, refused bail on the basis of “unacceptable risks” to the community.

“(Police) allege you’re in a criminal group, that there’s been a high level of supplying occurrences, and they have concerns you will continue to supply, should you be granted bail,” she said.

“These are serious matters and I have concerns that the unacceptable risks of you committing future serious offences… are not going to be properly dealt with even with strict conditions on that bail.

“I have concerns with your drug dependency…. It’s on that basis I’m not prepared to grant bail to you today.”

Ms Scanlon adjourned the matter to Batemans Bay Local Court on Monday, July 7, with Ms Hockey to appear via audiovisual link from the South Coast Correctional Centre.

As Ms Hockey was led from the court by correction officers family members told her to “stay strong”.

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