Huon Valley Council

It has been clear for quite some time that the Huon Valley Council has not been operating as well as it should.

The Government believes that as a democratically elected council, in the first instance it is up to the councillors themselves to resolve their issues.

We have assisted the council by appointing a Board of Inquiry to independently investigate a number of concerns and complaints that had been raised.

The Board recommended that either the Council be dismissed or a mediation process initiated.

The Government’s view was that it wasn’t appropriate to dismiss a council without giving them an opportunity to resolve the issues confronting them.

As Minister, I effectively gave the Council six months to get its house in order.

Unfortunately, it is now clear that the issues confronting the Council appear irreconcilable and the Council will not meet the Directions I issued earlier this year. Accordingly, it is my intention to recommend to the Governor that the Council be dismissed.

I have initiated the process to dismiss the Council and install a Commissioner, pursuant to Section 226(2) of the Local Government Act.

Today I will be writing to all councillors and informing them of my intentions and allowing them the opportunity to respond. I will also be writing to Council staff to explain that it will be the councillors that I intend to dismiss and that their jobs are not at risk.

Once I have considered the responses from councillors, if not convinced otherwise, it is my intention to recommend to the Governor that the council will be dismissed by mid-October and a Commissioner will be appointed to fulfil the functions of the Council from the date of its dismissal.

The Government has no intention of initiating an immediate Council election. The people of the Huon Valley and council staff deserve a period of stability.

Accordingly, the Commissioner would be appointed for an initial period of 12 months.

It is unfortunate that it has come to this point. The Government has at all times acted in good faith and with the best interests of the people of the Huon Valley in mind.
Peter Gutwein, Minister for Planning and Local Government