Ipswich City Council administrator to take helm from Thursday

THE administrator charged with running Ipswich City Council will be in place on Thursday should new laws to sack the current council be passed today as planned.

• Ipswich Council comes tumbling down
• Final meeting before Ipswich Council sacked

THE administrator charged with running Ipswich City Council will be in place on Thursday should new laws to sack the current council be passed today as planned.

The Courier-Mail can reveal special arrangements had been made with the ­Governor’s office for the Bill to be given assent tomorrow along with his consent to the appointment of the administrator and interim management committee.

Local Government Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said the administrator should be in place the following day.

“We are putting processes in place … so that assent and the appointment process occurs on Wednesday, so the administrator will be able to in place, completely in place, on Thursday,” he said.

The current Ipswich City Council’s days are numbered. Picture: Claudia Baxter / The Queensland Times

It is understood the administrator will be drawn from within government, with Economic Development Queensland general manager Greg Chemello the ­likely candidate. However, the Government remained tight-lipped on its choice last night.

Mr Hinchliffe said five others would be appointed to an interim management committee on a part-time basis to assist the administrator, with the total cost estimated at about $3.4 million. He said that was less than the cost of the 11 councillors over that same period.

The interim management committee will be made up of experts in fields including forensic investigation, governance and ethics and community engagement. They will not be drawn from the local community.

“What we need is a fresh set of eyes to help guide the ship back on course,” Mr Hinchliffe said.

“Their remit is to act in the best interests of all residents so that’s what they will do.”

Mr Hinchliffe said the core business of the council would continue as normal with its internal administration – from the chief executive down – remaining in place.

Cr Cheryl Bromage wipes away tears following the Ipswich City Council's final meeting at the Council Chambers. Picture: AAP Image/Dave Hunt

It comes as several Ipswich councillors, including Cheryl Bromage, were reduced to tears yesterday as the council held its final meeting before its looming dismissal.

Among the final motions agreed to was the introduction of a public question time during future council meetings and for all contracts of more than $250,000 to go to a full council meeting for consideration.

During his speech, veteran Councillor Paul Tully said he was not bitter about his dismissal.

“I feel sorry for the people of Ipswich because this is the first time in 158 years, when the council was first created in 1860, there won’t be any local council representatives,” he said after the meeting.

“I still hold my head up high. I will walk down the streets of Ipswich tomorrow knowing that I’ve done the best I could for almost the past 40 years.”