Three long-term administrators have been appointed to address what the state government calls “a wide range of failures” at Central Goldfields Council.
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Noel Harvey, Hugh Delahunty and Karen Douglas have been appointed until the next general council elections in October 2020, with Mr Harvey to take on the role of chairman.
The council entered administration in August after the state government sacked the councillors.
The council’s former chief executive officer, Mark Johnston, is also facing 67 charges related to obtaining financial advantage by deception, false accounting and conflict of interest.
Mr Harvey is a former mayor and councillor for the Shire of Kyneton and the Shire of Macedon Ranges, and was once the Chief Commissioner for the Shire of Hepburn.
He has also held a number of previous board positions, including as a member of the Central Goldfields Library Corporation from 1995 to 2003.
Mr Delahunty is a former councillor for both Horsham Rural City Council and Horsham City Council, where he also served as mayor for two terms.
He was Victoria’s Sport and Recreation Minister and Minister for Veteran’s Affairs from 2010 to 2014.
Ms Douglas has extensive experience with 10 years as a councillor for Northern Grampians Council, including four as mayor.
The state government says the three-year appointment will allow the administrators to ensure the council is functioning to its full capacity by 2020.
“This is a big turning point for ratepayers in Central Goldfields, who will now get the level of governance and service they deserve,” Local Government Minister Marlene Kairouz said.