Maranoa council’s biggest developments of 2021

From shock staff restructurings and changes to controversial community issues, it was another massive year at Maranoa Regional Council. See the biggest council news of 2021 here:

Maranoa Regional Council generic. Photo: Lachlan Berlin

It was another year of headline-making motions for Maranoa Regional Council in 2021, with everything from an organisational restructure to shock leadership changes and more.

See what got Roma talking this year:

‘Historic’ $1m organisational restructure takes effect

Described as the biggest change to governance in the Maranoa since amalgamation, the organisational restructure of Maranoa Regional Council was passed in March.

The motion approved the creation of eight new director roles, five of which would directly oversee the former shire council areas of Roma, Bungil, Booringa, Bendemere and Warroo.

Labelled by Mayor Tyson Golder as a “historic day” for the Maranoa, the move was not without its critics and did not escape controversy.

A minority of councillors argued the cost of the multimillion-dollar program should be made public, but were shot down in a final vote.

Councillor Johanne Hancock opposed the restructure alongside councillors Cameron O’Neil and Wendy Taylor, questioning why the ratepayer and some members of the council were left in the dark about the final sum.

“I just would think the ratepayers deserve to know what we know, what the budget figure is for this or structure,” Ms Hancock said.

Maranoa Regional Council Mayor Tyson Golder

CEO’s tenure deepens council divides

Division between the three opposing councillors and their counterparts in the ‘Unity Maranoa party’ voting bloc only deepened in 2021.

Councillors John Birkett, Mark Edwards, Julie Guthrie and George Ladbrock approved the restructure alongside Mr Golder and Deputy Mayor Geoff McMullen.

The same six-three voting divide remerged in August when the council moved to not renew the contract of CEO Julie Reitano.

Councillor O’Neil labelled the decision a “dark day” for the council.

Ms Reitano would have left the top job in March 2022, but was instead forced out early in an October vote Mr O’Neil called a “a stain on this council.”

Maranoa Regional Council voted in August not to renew the contract of CEO Julie Reitano

The motion brought forward the date of Ms Reitano’s departure to December 24 when the council entered its holiday shutdown.

She would spend the remainder of her tenure on leave.

Councillors O’Neil, Hancock and Taylor once again opposed the move.

“I think it’s very sad that (Ms Reitano) couldn’t go the way she wanted to go, which was to leave her house in order for the community,” Ms Taylor said.

“I honestly don’t believe it’s in the community’s interest to do what has been done. It wasn’t done the right way.”

Councillor Cameron O'Neil blasted the dismissal of CEO Julie Reitano as a “dark day”

Positions remain unfilled, ratepayers in the dark

The CEO position was just one of the council positions left vacant at the end of 2021.

The ‘Unity Maranoa party’ voting bloc moved in December to pursue applicant Edwina Marks for the top role, but only in an interim capacity.

When approached by The Western Star that month, the council could not confirm whether Ms Marks had accepted the job.

Her candidacy reignited tensions within the council.

Ms Hancock, Mr O’Neil, and Ms Taylor failed to pass an amendment that would have made public the cost of pre-recruitment, which they said should be open and transparent.

Maranoa Regional Council CEO Julie Reitano

Ms Hancock blasted what she called a ‘short-term vision’ within the council, with the cost of the next CEO’s employment still unresolved.

“There is a huge financial implication to council to do this process to put in an interim CEO,” Ms Hancock said.

The Maranoa council has also remained tight-lipped on the cost of the eight new council positions that were created in a government restructuring earlier this year, with at least two of the positions remaining unfilled.

One of the roles was filled in November, but the successful applicant would reportedly only be in the job for three to six months.

The role would be refilled when Ms Reitano’s successor takes over in 2022.

Originally published as Maranoa council’s biggest developments of 2021