Onkaparinga Mayor Lorraine Rosenberg quits as Local Government Association president

EMBATTLED Onkaparinga Mayor Lorraine Rosenberg has stepped down from her position as the head of the state’s peak council body, amid claims her controversial council has tainted the reputation of local government.

Lorraine Rosenberg leaves the Local Government Association meeting, in Adelaide. Picture David Mariuz

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EMBATTLED Onkaparinga Mayor Lorraine Rosenberg has stepped down from her position as the head of the state’s peak council body, amid claims her controversial council has tainted the reputation of local government.

Ms Rosenberg resigned at an emergency Local Government Association board meeting this afternoon.

The LGA board will meet at a later date to discuss who would fill the role.

Mid Murray Council Mayor Dave Burgess, who chaired the meeting, said the saga at Onkaparinga reflected poorly on the association.

Ms Rosenberg’s decision comes after her own elected members passed a no-confidence vote in her on Tuesday night amid claims of “favoritism”, “bullying” and “intimidation”.

“We spoke about it and we believe Lorraine has done a great job, but some of the politics are spilling into the LGA brand and the two are getting confused,” Mr Burgess said.

West Torrens Mayor John Trainer said he admired Ms Rosenberg’s courage and “self-sacrifice” to step down.

“I think quite a few mayors and councillors breathe a sigh of relief, but I want to praise Lorraine for her intellectual integrity in acknowledging the realities of the situation,” Mr Trainer said.

“Lorraine, so far as I can see, has broken no laws or regulations, but she has made errors of political judgement, which have been successfully exploited by a group of councillors and hopeful candidates seeking to undermine her.”

In February 2017, The Advertiser revealed Onkaparinga Council used ratepayers’ money to pay for its chief executive Mark Dowd’s $6800 joining free to Kooyonga Golf Club in Lockleys.

State Ombudsman Wayne Lines also said he was investigating the council’s credit card spending.

Mr Lines said despite the controversy surrounding Ms Rosenberg and her council, his investigation was “not to be finished soon”.

“And I can’t really say anything more about that,” Mr Lines said.

A number of other mayors across Adelaide this week urged Ms Rosenberg to step down because the infighting at her council had damaged the reputation of Local Government in South Australia.

Ms Rosenberg said her resignation was in the best interests of the sector.

“My whole reason for accepting the presidency in the first place was to be a fierce advocate for the benefits of local government,” Ms Rosenberg said.

“As my current position is not adding positively to both the LGA and to local government, I have decided to tender my resignation.”

“I wish my replacement and the organisation the best of luck and pledge my ongoing strong support.”

Ms Rosenberg has vowed to stay on as Onkaparinga mayor.