Local Government Minister Wendy Tuckerman says she is working closely with Central Coast Council to improve long-term sustainability.
In response to CCN asking when a local government election might be called, the Minister said the timing of the elections will be made “in due course”.
“The complex factors that led to my decision to terminate councillors need time to be resolved,” Tuckerman said.
“The Administrator, Rik Hart and CEO, David Farmer, are working hard to improve the financial stability of council.
“I am working closely with Mr Hart and Mr Farmer to improve long-term sustainability and to rebuild the community’s trust in Central Coast Council.’’
Tuckerman, who replaced Shelley Hancock as Local Government Minister in October last year, said more information about the timing of the Coast’s elections would be made in due course and following consultation with the NSW Electoral Commissioner.
Coast News asked her how long potential candidates would have to campaign.
“The community and prospective candidates will have more than enough time to nominate and campaign under the normal election rules for Local Government elections,” Tuckerman said.
“I am confident that when elections are held again, the community will have time to make informed decisions at the ballot box, so that ratepayers of the Central Coast have a say on their civic leaders.”
Former Minister Hancock suspended the councillors in October 2020 after the Council revealed immediate and serious cash flow issues.
Hancock then called a public inquiry into the Council in April 2021.
Tuckerman was the Minister for Local Government when the public inquiry report landed in February of this year.
On St Patricks Day, March 17, Tuckerman made the report public and terminated all the current councillors, effective immediately, which was one of eight recommendations of the report.
Tuckerman said she accepted “in principle” the remaining recommendations.
These included mandatory training in financial management specific to local government for councillors; and changes to the Local Government Act to eliminate “asserted ambiguity” in how restricted funds can be used and/or consideration to changing how Central Coast Council administers its water supply and sewerage services to make it the same as any other NSW Council.
Merilyn Vale