Moreton Bay council boss quits as the council under fire from CCC

The long-serving CEO of an under-fire southeast Queensland council has quit suddenly, leaving staff and councillors reeling.

Outgoing council CEO Daryl Hitzman with outgoing mayor Allan Sutherland and suspended councillor Adrian Raedel in the council chamber in 2016. Picture: Richard Walker

THE long-serving chief executive officer at an under fire Queensland council has spectacularly quit today.

The shock resignation of Moreton Bay Council CEO Daryl Hitzman has left staff reeling after councillors were notified of the decision at today’s general meeting, and accepted the resignation.

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Council staff today at 5.01pm learned of the shock resignation in an email from the now acting CEO Graeme Kanofski.

Mr Hitzman’s resignation comes at a time when the Queensland Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC) has three ongoing investigations relating to Moreton Bay Council.

Neither Mr Hitzman nor any current councillor apart from Cr Adrian Raedel have been charged by the CCC in relation to these matters.

“Mr Hitzman has been with the council, and prior to council, its predecessor, Redcliffe City Council, for over 20 years in a range of roles, including Corporate Services Director, and most recently as chief executive officer,” Mr Kanofski said in the email to staff.

“Mr Hitzman commenced as chief executive officer in September 2012.

“The mayor, councillors and council thank Mr Hitzman for his service to the council and the Moreton Bay Region.”

It is understood that Mr Kanofski will take on the role until a permanent replacement is found.

Mr Hitzman has overseen a tumultuous period in Moreton Bay Council’s history, not least of which is due to three current investigations by the CCC.

One of those is over a multimillion-dollar contract with events company Moreton Bay Region Industry & Tourism.

In June, Cr Adrian Raedel was charged by the CCC with one count of official corruption over allegations involving a long-time donor, Tosh Murphy.

Mr Murphy charged by the CCC over the same matter on July 26.

And mayor Allan Sutherland, who announced his retirement on August 7, is under investigation in relation to his ownership of a property at Burpengary.