Council inquiry begins

Louisa Rust

The public inquiry into Shellharbour City Council, which could lead to the sacking of all councillors, started on Monday with a preliminary hearing in Dapto.

The large room at the Dapto Ribbonwood Centre was scattered with a small crowd of councillors, council officers and community members who sat silently through the proceedings.

In his opening address, commissioner Richard Colley said future hearings of the public inquiry would be held at Albion Park, after councillors earlier criticised the venue of the preliminary hearing as it was outside the Shellharbour area.

The hearing was also attended by Gerry Holmes, who will be representing council’s corporate body throughout the inquiry, while councillors were told they will need to seek their own legal representation if needed.

Manager of the Investigation 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.

Mr Alderman said the department’s main concerns regarding the council included compliance with the code of conduct, the “disruptive conduct” of some councillors at meetings, the lack of action being taken in relation to code of conduct breaches and how the council conducts its meetings.

Hearings will run from May 26 to June 13 at the Centenary Hall in Albion Park. Hearing dates and copies of submissions will be posted on the inquiry’s website at http://www.dlg.nsw.gov.au/shellharbour.