Palmerston Council put into administration

PALMERSTON Council has been put into administration by the Territory Government, the NT News can reveal

Palmerston Mayor Ian Abbott addresses the audience at the Palmerston Citizenship Ceremony on Australia Day. Picture: JUSTIN KENNEDY

PALMERSTON Council has been put into administration by the Territory Government, the NT News can reveal.

Local Government Minister Gerry McCarthy made the move Thursday afternoon, calling for a complete investigation “on the conduct of the suspended members and the affairs and financial position of the council”.

All aldermen have been suspended effective immediately.

The Government has named Darwin Council executive manager Mark Blackburn to manage Palmerston Council affairs.

The shock move comes less than two months before the council election, scheduled for Saturday August 26.

Palmerston council attracted controversy late last month over the signing of a contract to build a $13.5 million new multistorey carpark before getting permission to seek a loan from the Minister. Mr McCarthy rejected the loan application to pay for the 378-bay carpark structure, due to a number of “inconsistencies” in council’s proposal. Those inconsistencies included the total cost of the project “not clearly communicated”, insufficient third party scrutiny, no long term loan repayment schedule and not enough public consultation.

It was also revealed the loan proposal application was submitted without being approved by elected members of council.

Pressure had mounted on the council over the past two weeks. Their Budget was delayed and the public had called for an investigation into the council’s handling of finances.

The investigator Russell Anderson will report back to the Minister by December 29.

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