Onkaparinga Council agrees to part ways with chief executive Mark Dowd

The chief executive will leave the council after serving for eight years and following two years of controversy over the council’s use of ratepayers’ money.

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Onkaparinga Council and its chief executive Mark Dowd have “mutually agreed” to part ways after serving eight years as its boss.

Elected members met behind closed-doors last night — after months of confidential meetings — to discuss Mr Dowd’s employment contract.

In a media statement released today, the council said it and Mr Dowd had mutually agreed to part ways.

The statement acknowledged “the significant achievements” by Mr Dowd over his tenure, saying he was pivotal in leading significant projects for the council.

Mark Dowd. Picture: Stephen Laffer

Mr Dowd’s departure comes at the end of his current contract, according to the statement.

The past two years of Mr Dowd’s leadership at Onkaparinga have been shrouded in controversy after it was revealed that ratepayers had forked out $6818 for a membership at the prestigious Kooyonga Golf Club, at Lockleys, in 2017.

He later agreed to repay the money.

FOI documents later revealed that council staff had spent $70,000 of ratepayers money in 18 months on expensive Apple products — including an Apple Watch for Mr Dowd — flowers, hotel rooms, booze and an Adelaide Oval roof climb resulting in an investigation by Ombudsman Wayne Lines into the council’s credit card spending last year.

Maslin Beach resident campaigner John Houlahan — who obtained the council’s credit card statements under FOI — welcomed the announcement.

He said Onkaparinga had been “out of control” and that this was the start of “long overdue reform”.

“There is a lot that needs to happen but this is an excellent start,” Mr Houlahan said.

Mayor Erin Thompson acknowledged the work done by Mr Dowd in “successfully leading the administration of the council for this long period of time and the achievements that he and his staff have been able to achieve”.

“I personally wish to thank Mark for his efforts and wish him every continuing success in his future career,” Ms Thompson said.

“We will soon commence a recruitment process to find a new CEO and continue delivering great outcomes for our communities.”

Veteran councillor Bill Jamieson — who has served on the council during Mr Dowd’s entire tenure — said he was a “good man” and “bursting with ideas”.

However, he said, the council felt the best way to move forward was to part ways.

City operations director Kirk Richardson has been appointed acting chief executive.