![The head office of the Central Darling Shire Council in Wilcannia. Photo: wilcanniatourism.com.au The head office of the Central Darling Shire Council in Wilcannia. Photo: wilcanniatourism.com.au](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-agfeed/2079112.jpg/r0_0_1024_683_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
A PUBLIC inquiry into Central Darling Shire Council's dire state has been announced by NSW Local Government Minister Paul Toole.
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The Central Darling Shire sits in the far western reaches of NSW, between Broken Hill and Cobar, with the council offices located in Wilcannia.
“This action follows a thorough report by financial advisors, Bird Cameron RSM, which shows that the council is in an extremely serious financial position,” Mr Toole said.
On December 23, 2013, former Local Government Minister Don Page suspended the councillors - including the mayor - for three months due to its bleak financial situation and appointed an interim administrator.
The decision was made using Early Intervention powers passed in the NSW Parliament in 2013.
The suspension was extended for a further three months by order until June 22, 2014.
The interim administrator had taken important steps towards addressing the financial and structural issues facing the council, Mr O'Toole said.
However, there was still a lot more work to be done to return the council to a secure financial footing.
“A public inquiry process will give councillors the opportunity to demonstrate that they can and will take responsibility for council’s financial and structural issues.” Mr Toole said.
Richard Colley, who conducted the inquiry into Shellharbour City Council in 2008, will conduct the public inquiry.
Councillors remain suspended pending the outcome of the inquiry and the role of the administrator continues.
In 2012 a small community near Menindee said it wants to see the Central Darling Shire council dissolved, as the local Sunset Strip Progress Association had taken over the work of council at their own cost.
Association president Dennis Standley said volunteers at the strip were maintaining the local tip, community hall and cleaning the streets.
A report commissioned in 2010 found the council was failing to meet the requirements expected of it and its infrastructure was "meagre and poor".