MURRAY Shire councillors could be suspended and an administrator appointed by the end of this week, while the shire undergoes a consultation period for a proposal for it to merge with Wakool Shire.
Last Thursday, Local Government Minister Paul Toole wrote to Murray Shire Council saying he would suspend its councillors unless they could show cause within seven days.
The notice of intention followed what Mr Toole labelled a deterioration in council affairs since he declared a public inquiry last month into allegations of dysfunction and poor relationships affecting the council’s day-to-day running.
“The situation between councillors has now broken down to the point where the council meeting, which was to have been held on January 19, could not proceed because of a lack of a quorum and had to be adjourned,” Mr Toole said.
“I have therefore given notice to suspend Murray Shire Council as it is evident there is now an irreparable breakdown in relationships between the councillors, and between the councillors and the general manager.”
Mr Toole said if the council failed within a week to put forward a convincing case as to why it was not in the public interest for them to be suspended, he intended to suspend councillors and appoint an administrator for the duration of the current public inquiry.
The decision would not impact recommendations that may arise in response to the council’s Fit for the Future proposals or its merger proposal with Wakool Shire, he added.
Wakool Shire Mayor Neil Gorey said it was disappointing the government would consider suspending the councillors in the middle of the merger consultation process.
“The concern now is about the availability of information to the community, especially to the Murray Shire,” he said.
“We’ll make every endeavour as we can to invite them to our community meetings, and we are now conducting a phone poll including Murray Shire residents.”
Cr Gorey said he was “puzzled” by the Minister’s comments that the suspension would not impact on the merger talks and questioned his true motivations.
“It will impact on the process, it must impact on the process, because the role of Murray Shire Council is that they’re there to represent the community. If they’re no longer, how can they participate in a public hearing, how can they consult with the community, how can they offer an opinion on behalf of the community when they’re suspended?
“This consultation process is supposed to continue until February 28, and here we are two or three weeks into the process and Murray Shire won’t be there.”
