MEMBER for Murray Plains, Peter Walsh, has called on the state government to appoint a commission of inquiry into the performance of the Gannawarra Shire Council.
In his adjournment matter before parliament, Mr Walsh said he wrote to the Minister for Local Government, Adem Somyurek, on October 4 requesting his urgent intervention in and investigation of a shire “bullying case”.
“Tonight I will go a step further, and I ask the minister to actually appoint a commission of inquiry into the performance of the Gannawarra council and particularly its CEO,” he said.
“The communities of the Gannawarra shire deserve and expect better leadership from their council than they are currently receiving,” Mr Walsh told parliament.
However, in response to these claims, Gannawarra Shire Council CEO, Tom O’Reilly, said the Gannawarra Shire Council was acting appropriately to manage valid concerns within the district.
“Council respects everyone’s right to express an opinion, but equally they should respect that there are appropriate mechanisms and processes in place to manage valid concerns,” Mr O’Reilly said.
“Gannawarra Shire Council is a high performing council that acts in the best interests of all its ratepayers, based on facts, rather than political opinion.”
The push for an inquiry comes as Mr Walsh told parliament, the lack of leadership within council, was risking local investment opportunities.
“This is placing at risk decision-making by council, and the community will lose investment and jobs coming into this region unless that is corrected,” he said.
Mr Walsh specifically highlighted that the “investment that is at risk” was the upgrade to the Cohuna airport.
“Earlier this year, the deputy prime minister announced a $2.57 million grant to upgrade the Cohuna airport,” Mr Walsh said.
“This upgrade would create the opportunity for a pilot training academy to be based at Cohuna with a minimum of 50 students.
“We have all seen the economic activity and the jobs that have been generated by the training academy that is currently being set up in Mildura.
