Announcement from the Local Govt Minister –
Administration to continue at Brimbank City Council
Thursday, 17 May 2012
The Victorian Government will introduce legislation next week to extend the Administration of the Brimbank City Council through until March 2015.
The decision to extend the period of Administration was recommended by two independent reports, has considerable community support and will help to ensure a return to stable, effective representative government at Brimbank City Council.
“The weight of advice provided by independent reports was such that the best course of action was to maintain Administration while work was finalised,” Minister for Local Government Jeanette Powell said.
“Both reports identified that the premature return to an elected council carries the very real risk of a return to the discredited and damaging practices of the past and the derailing of numerous important projects commenced under Administration.
“Subject to the passage of the legislation a rotation and refocusing will occur amongst the team of administrators at Brimbank.
“Jo Anderson and Meredith Sussex will step down at the end of October this year, roughly in line with the general Local Council elections.
“Peter Lewinsky will relinquish his role as Chief Administrator but remain a member of the Administration team.
“It is important to put on the record my personal thanks to the current Administrators for the outstanding job they have done at the council and acknowledge the role the former Minister Richard Wynne played in the decision to appoint them.
“The community of Brimbank have been fortunate to have the skills and dedication of Jo and Meredith working for them during this difficult period,” Mrs Powell said.
“The final phase of administration will feature a comprehensive community engagement strategy to prepare for the return of an elected council.
“I have asked the current Chair Peter Lewinsky to stay on as an administrator, thereby giving the team important continuity.
“John Watson, the current Executive Director of Local Government Victoria, will retire in October and will then assume the role of Chief Administrator at Brimbank.
“John Watson is highly respected for his skills and abilities throughout the sector and by both sides of politics.
“Upon learning of his intention to retire from LGV, I asked him to take on the role of Chair of the Brimbank Administrators.
“I can think of no-one better qualified to build on the work of the current Administrators and prepare the council for elections in March 2015,” Mrs Powell said.
The third administrator’s position will go to an individual with strong qualifications in community engagement.
Glen Eira Debates 
May 17, 2012 at 11:00 PM
I’m horrified by this announcement because whatever the history of Brimbank and its councillors the residents of Brimbank are still entitled to vote. Everyone else in the state will be voting in October, but not these residents. To me that’s discrimination and politics at it’s worst. Maybe they’re scared that a group of Labour leaning councillors will get back in, but that’s still no excuse for denying people their rights for another three years. The reports that this decision are allegedly based on haven’t been made public either. We’re starting to live in a horrible nanny state that runs everything on the basis of secrecy. The gang must feel right at home.
May 18, 2012 at 10:38 AM
This is political. Three years to sort out a council is enough. Delaying elections until 2015 makes it 6 years with no elections. Hardly a democracy!
May 18, 2012 at 12:34 PM
There was a gap of 3 miserable months between when Glen Eira Council was sacked in 2005 and new elections held. In that time the first 3-storey development in my street was rushed through by the Administration. Naturally it failed to comply with multiple policies and standards. Worse, every multi-unit development since has an expectation to be as big or bigger than what has previously been approved. Considering what an Administration can do without oversight in 3 months, 6 years is extraordinary. The rot starts at the top.
May 18, 2012 at 1:34 PM
Just read the agenda for this weeks Council meeting. Seems like half the agenda is Council filtered positive comments from facebook on GESAC. How many words have been devoted to the MRC/Council agreement that was to be completed a month ago? A big fat ZERO! When oh when will Council finally state that the agreement has been terminated as the MRC got what they wanted and Newton got what he wanted in C60 being passed. Instead they just remove the agreement from the front page of the website and put their fingers in their ears singing lalala. Pilling is the one to blame here. The community comes to expect this sort of pathetic treatment from the gang but not from a member of the Greens.
May 18, 2012 at 8:14 PM
Neil Pilling is no longer a member of the Greens
May 18, 2012 at 8:25 PM
That’s not what his blog site states.