CENTRAL Darling Shire Council will be run by an administrator for the foreseeable future following recommendations made by Commissioner Richard Colley into the running of the council.
On 19 June 2014, Local Government Minister Paul Toole announced a public inquiry into Central Darling Shire Council, following concerns it was in an extremely serious financial position.
The inquiry found:
- "The councillors, in the main, displayed a fatalistic attitude about the council's financial viability.
- "There was no attempt to resolve or arrest the council's financial decline.
- "There was a failure to recognise that the seemingly unfettered expenditure was coming from restricted reserves, without approval and contrary to legislative requirements.
- At no stage did the councillors appear to consult with individual townships or the community generally, with a view to gaining community support to remedy the financial situation.
- The councillors blamed, and continue to blame the federal and State governments, including various government agencies for a failure to provide funding to bail the council out of the financial crisis.
- Despite being presented with a monthly cash balance report, and being aware of the rapid absorption of investment and grant funding, the councillors failed to demand quarterly budget reviews."
Mr Toole said the commissioner concluded that there is no viable alternative for the council, other than a lengthy period of administration.
"There is a risk the momentum gained during the period of interim administration will be lost if a new council is elected in the short term," Mr Toole said.
"It is essential the interests of the residents, ratepayers and council staff are put first."
Mr Toole said the interim administrator, Greg Wright, had been appointed as the permanent administrator.
