The besieged Wangaratta Council has been sacked, after being labelled a “toxic workplace”.
The state government on Wednesday moved to dismiss the Wangaratta Rural City Council, in the state’s north-east, appointing an administrator until the next council elections in October 2016.
Minister for Local Government Jeanette Powell said the culture of the council made its formation untenable.
“The toxic workplace environment has resulted in an unprecedented departure of the CEO and entire Corporate Management Team,” she said.
“The Rural City of Wangaratta Council has failed to meet its legal obligations to provide a safe workplace by allowing a culture of bullying and intimidating behaviour among some councilors towards staff growth, impacting on staff wellbeing and leading to a large number of staff resignations.”
Mrs Powell said the community will miss out on business investment and fail to secure government grants because of the dysfunctional environment.
“The Council’s failure to govern effectively has seen $1.5 million of ratepayers’ funds wasted to date on councillor dispute procedures, Councillor Conduct Panels, legal fess, staff departures and temporary replacement staff,” she said.
“The Coalition Government is taking this action because the Wangaratta Council has failed to provide effective leadership and service for the community.
“Without decisive action to remove the Council, it is almost certain there will be further staff resignations, staff absence due to sick leave and further waste of council resources and missed opportunities.”
The sacking of Wangaratta Council follows ombudsman George Brower’s calls for Darebin Council to be monitored in August.
In an annual report Mr Brower said there were several serious breaches of good governance, likening it to the already sacked Brimbank Council.
The Wangaratta Council is in the federal government seat of Indi, which has also made headlines with independent Cathy McGowan capturing the seat from Sophie Mirabella, the incumbent Liberal MP, bucking the nationwide swing to the Liberal party.
