Secret South Coast Rd upgrade land deal documents behind suspension of Yorke Peninsula councillor Adam Meyer

The Advertiser can reveal the alleged “serious misbehaviour” behind an SA Police officer and local councillor’s suspension without pay.

A councillor suspended for “serious misbehaviour” was attempting to unseal documents about a property dispute between council and a private landowner.

On Friday, Adam Meyer was stood down for one month without pay after a disciplinary panel ruled he made “inappropriate, accusatory and / or antagonistic” remarks against an unnamed senior council officer.

Mayor Darren Braund, acting as a “responsible person” under the Local Government Act, alleged the employee’s mental health and safety were at risk, and their integrity questioned based on “unsubstantiated allegations”.

Yorke Peninsula councillor Adam Meyer was suspended for one month without pay as of Friday, January 10. Picture: yorke.sa.gov.au

Yorke Peninsula Mayor Darren Braund. Picture: Supplied

In its report, the Behaviour Standards Panel said it “did not receive evidence of any psychological injury” but was “satisfied from the information provided by Mayor Braund that (the employee’s) psychological health was being impacted”.

The Advertiser understands the misbehaviour concerned Mr Meyer’s repeated requests for documents about the construction of a road on private property in 2017, as part of the South Coast Rd upgrade.

In an email extract dated 11 June, 2023, he accused the employee of an unspecified conflict of interest in the matter which was probed by the SA Ombudsman, although the investigation’s outcome is unknown.

Mr Meyer raised further questions during council meetings in December 2023 and January 2024 about the land deal and why the documents were confidential.

However, the questions were ruled “improper” by Mr Braund because several years elapsed and they were unrelated to the “proper discharge of [Mr Meyer’s] duties”.

YP Ratepayers Association chairman Ian Markos said he was concerned that the employee’s mental health was used to deflect scrutiny of council operations.

“If people want those questions asked, that’s the job of that elected councillor … If you don’t like hard questions, then don’t be in public life,” Mr Markos said.

“The level of support has been quite amazing for (Mr Meyer), and the level of anger at the Mayor and council is at boiling point.”

Local Government Minister Joe Szakacs. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Mariuz

He said he would raise the matter with Local Government Minister Joe Szakacs.

Mr Braund told The Advertiser the public expected councillors to “conduct themselves in a courteous and professional manner”.

“Council members that do not meet these standards can cause harm to fellow members, council staff, and members of the public, and cause reputational damage to both their council and local government more broadly,” he said.

“Council members ought to be deterred from engaging in behaviour that improperly targets individuals who work for or serve on councils in order to ensure that council workplaces are safe environments for everyone.

“As this matter has been addressed by the panel, as an independent statutory body, I will not be making any further comment.”

A spokesman for Mr Szakacs said he had no role in directing the panel and that it was “by design, independent in its operations”.

Mr Meyer said he was presently unable to comment further.

Originally published as Secret South Coast Rd upgrade land deal documents behind suspension of Yorke Peninsula councillor Adam Meyer