Former Local Government Minister Melissa Horne tabled the results of the Commission of Inquiry into Moira Shire Council.
Two years have passed since the Moira Shire Council was dismissed by the Victorian Government after a Commission of Inquiry uncovered evidence of a “catastrophic governance failure” within the former council.
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Alongside providing several recommendations outlined by commissioners Frances O’Brien KC (chair) and John Tanner, the commission ordered council to reimburse the costs of its investigation.
The Courier can reveal that council paid an amount of $921,894 (excluding GST) in the 2022/23 financial year to Local Government Victoria via the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions to cover the cost of the Commission of Inquiry into Moira Shire Council.
These costs are not recoverable by council.
Further to this, the commission found council’s actions in transferring asbestos-contaminated waste to waste stations in Tungamah and Strathmerton not licensed to retrieve it constituted “serious misconduct”.
For the investigation and remediation of all identified sites, council incurred a direct cost of $760,224.49, which it paid to the contractors awarded the works in the 2023/24 financial year.
The commissioners found “good reason” to believe that the murder of Mr Devlin “may have been preventable”.
The nine-member council was sacked in March 2023 after former Local Government Minister Melissa Horne received the results of the commission in March that year.
Since then, council has been under a panel of administrators, now comprised of Graeme Emonson and the recently appointed Susan Benedyka. It will remain that way until the 2028 local government elections.
Commissioner and former council interim administrator John Tanner, together with fellow commissioner Frances O’Brien KC (chair), found “good reason” to believe that the murder of Rick Devlin “may have been preventable”.
Chair Administrator Dr Emonson said the panel of administrators had been focused on restoring good governance and leadership across the shire, and was now starting to see the benefits of that work.
“We know there is more work to do, but the progress we’ve made gives us great confidence that Moira Shire is on the right path in building strong foundations for good governance, leadership and a thriving, connected community well into the future,” he said.
“Substantial progress has been made to deliver long-awaited projects for our community, including the new Yarrawonga Library, the new Yarrawonga Multisport Stadium and the Numurkah township protection northern levee. These are just the beginning — we have a strong pipeline of projects planned that will continue to deliver benefits for our communities in the years ahead.”
