The cost of managing conflict within the Huon Valley Council will be put on to ratepayers, Local Government Minister Peter Gutwein says.
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Mr Gutwein announced in State Parliament on Tuesday that the Huon Valley Council would be dismissed in mid-October, unless they can put forward a strong case to prevent the action.
The government had given the council a period of six months to attempt resolution before calling for the dismissal.
“I provided them with the opportunity to demonstrate leadership to work through challenges and provide good leadership,” Mr Gutwein said.
“That hasn’t occurred and it is unfortunate that we’ve got to this point but I’ve been left with no other option.”
Three council members, including Mayor Peter Coad, withdrew from participating in mediation after they found it was ineffective in resolving conflict.
Former Huon Valley councillor and Greens MHA Rosalie Woodruff said the process had been a joke.
“The people of the Huon should not bare the cost of that sham mediation process,” Ms Woodruff said.
“The minister should have called this to a halt before he even started it.”
Opposition Local Government spokeswoman Madeleine Ogilvie said the government had wasted an estimated $500,000 on managing council conflicts in Southern Tasmania.
The people of Tasmania deserve better than this.
- Labor spokeswoman Madeleine Ogilvie
She said Mr Gutwein should have been more proactive in resolving issues
“The people of Tasmania deserve better than this,” Ms Ogilvie said.
“[Mr Gutwein] should have acted sooner to get down there, get around the table and sort things out.”
Mr Gutwein said the total cost to date would be less than $300,000.
Huon Valley Council Mayor Peter Coad said he supported the dismissal, however, the decision should have been made earlier.
“I’m very disappointed, but it is the right decision,” Cr Coad said.
“It should have been made months ago to avoid people going through extra stress.”
A commissioner will oversee the council for the next 12 months.