Interim administrator appointed at Moira Shire Council

By Gabriel Garcia

Mar 10, 2023

The Victorian Government has appointed John Tanner as the interim administrator of Moira Shire Council after the council was sacked this week.

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Mr Tanner will take on the role for three months, until a panel of administrators is appointed.

He will work to ensure the council remains operable before the panel of administrators takes over until 2028.

The council was sacked on Tuesday, March 7 by Local Government Minister Melissa Horne.

In a statement regarding Mr Tanner’s appointment, Ms Horne said it was vital that the council represented the community, and that it had failed in its duty.

“The findings of the commission of inquiry demanded drastic action be taken in the interests of local residents and businesses,” Ms Horne said.

She said the appointment of Mr Tanner and the future panel of administrators would stabilise the council and let it get on with representing the community.

The recent commission of inquiry’s report found that governance at the council had deteriorated to the point that it could no longer effectively carry out its responsibilities.

In a report tabled to parliament this week, the commission of inquiry cited evidence of misconduct, possible illegal activity, mismanagement of key projects, poor communication and community representation, as well as repeated failures to meet occupation health and safety obligations.

Moira Shire Council has been contacted for comment.