Bundaberg council accepts resignation from CEO Steve Johnston
In a sudden end to a tenure wracked by controversy, the new Bundaberg Regional Council has unanimously accepted the resignation of council CEO Steve Johnston.
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Following discussions in a confidential meeting on Tuesday, Bundaberg Regional councillors voted to accept the resignation of council CEO Steve Johnston.
“I move that council, one; accepts the resignation of its CEO on the terms and conditions as discussed in the closed and confidential session of this council meeting and two; delegates to the mayor all power to sign documents as necessary to give effect to the CEO’s resignation,” new Mayor Helen Blackburn said.
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The vote for the motion was unanimous, with all councillors and the mayor in favour of the CEO’s resignation.
Deputy mayor and division 4 councillor Tracey McPhee wished Mr Johnston the best after the decision to accept his resignation was confirmed.
“I just wanted to say that I wish you all the best Steve, I appreciate the value of your experience, knowledge and dedication you afford to the role,” she said.
Councillor Steve Cooper also submitted his well wishes and goodbyes.
In comments after the meeting, Ms Blackburn said Mr Johnston’s resignation “paves the way” for a more effective operation of council in delivering on her commitment to a more transparent and accountable council.
“The council’s job is to work as closely as it can with the operational side of the business, and it’s the mayor’s job to work well with the CEO,” she said.
“I think this paves the way in order for the new council to have a new CEO and operate in the way that the community wants us to operate, which is with transparency, accountability and community consultation.”
The current general manager infrastructure services Stuart Randall will be interim CEO until a permanent replacement for Mr Johnston can be recruited through a process Ms Blackburn estimated would take about six months.
Even prior to onboarding the new CEO, Ms Blackburn flagged imminent changes to key aspects of the operation of council, including more open communication with local media.
“We’re not going to sit to wait making decisions, council still has to move forward,” she said.
“And so even with that interim CEO I’d expect there to be some changes in the way that we operate, I’m thinking particularly with the media in terms of providing media releases and information out to media on a more regular basis.
“That would be one of the first changes that I see could occur, which would assist with that transparency piece.”
Ms Blackburn did not provide comment on the terms of Mr Johnston’s resignation, including whether he would be receiving a payout for the remaining term of his contract.
“No circumstances around this resignation will be released, everything is in confidence,” she said.
Mr Johnston’s resignation concludes a controversy-wracked time in office since being appointed to the position of CEO in April 2017.
Formerly CEO of the pre-amalgamated Isis Shire Council, Mr Johnston often bore the brunt of public criticism of Bundaberg council as lacking transparency and community consultation, most notably around the demolition of Anzac Pool as it was on the verge of being assessed for heritage listing.
As bulldozers began tearing down the historic pool in September 2022, Mr Johnston rejected claims that the demolition was controversial by saying council had approved it in a June 2022 budget meeting.
However, in November 2023, he said he was able to force through the demolition without the approval of council due to his delegated powers.
“I never required a council resolution to proceed with the works and to suggest otherwise is nonsense,” he said at the time.
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Winding back the CEO’s delegated powers and restoring them to democratically-elected councillors was one of the key aspects of Ms Blackburn’s platform in the 2024 council election.
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