Council faces the music

LOUISA RUST

The Department of Local Government’s public inquiry into Shellharbour City Council will resume next week, with members of the community invited to speak on their submissions at a series of public hearings.

The office of the Commissioner of the Inquiry, Mr Richard Colley, said that more than 90 written submissions had been received from community members and some councillors so far.

The inquiry began last month with a preliminary hearing at the Dapto Ribbonwood Centre, where manager of the investigations and review branch of the Department of Local Government, David Alderman, spoke on the department’s submission, giving reasons for its recommendation for the inquiry.

Mr Alderman said the department had “been concerned for some time about the operation of Shellharbour City Council and its capability to act in the best interest of its community . . . in particular with respect to the relationships between the governing body and the operational arm of the organisation”.

“It would appear from the department’s correspondence with the council that it has been unsuccessful in addressing these issues,” he said.

After complaints from the council that the preliminary hearing was taking place outside the Shellharbour local government area, the Centenary Hall at Albion Park was selected for further hearings.

Minister for Local Government Paul Lynch announced the inquiry on April 3, appointing Mr Colley, a former general manager of Bankstown City Council, as the commissioner.

The terms of reference pointedly include one that directs the commissioner “to inquire, report and provide recommendations to the Minister for Local Government as to whether all civic offices at Shellharbour City Council should be declared vacant”.

Of the past eight public inquiries into NSW councils since 2003, seven have led to the dismissal of the council.

Hearings have been scheduled daily for the periods from Monday May 26 to Thursday May 29, Monday June 2 to Thursday June 5, and Tuesday June 10 to Thursday June 12, with the commissioner able to set more hearings after this date.

The names of the speakers at Monday’s hearing will be posted on the inquiry website at www.dlg.nsw.gov.au/shellharbour/, tomorrow.

Hearings will be open to the public and will generally run from 10am to 4pm.