Investigation into Upper Hunter Shire Council
Petitioner:
Ms Patricia Taylor
| Member:
Shetty, Kobi
| No. of Signatories:
1,201
| Date closed:
23/10/2023
To the Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly,
The financial performance of the Upper Hunter Shire Council is in disarray along with, unsurprisingly, its governance. It is failing to fulfil its most basic obligations in respect of its residents and ratepayers in addition to its functions under the Local Government Act 1993 (NSW) ("the Act"). We petitioners have long held serious concerns regarding Council's management of major projects, its accumulation of debt and ability to maintain basic local road services.
Inquiries into Council's performance remain incomplete after 3 years and we petitioners can see no prospect that the situation will resolve itself and believe the Parliament and the Executive must act in the interests of ratepayers, residents and the State of New South Wales.
We ask that the powers under Parts 5,6,7 and 8 of the Act be exercised according to the Minister and Governors discretion as they see fit. We say that this will be to the benefit of the people of the Shire concerned in particular and the people of NSW in general. This petition therefore asks the Legislative Assembly to call on the Government to commence an inquiry into the affairs of the Council and other remedies such as the Appointment of an Administrator if considered necessary.
