Glenorchy City Council inquiry bill tipped to hit $1m

THE inquiry into the dysfunctional Glenorchy City Council will extend to 600 days and cost $1 million after aldermen were granted more response time, suspended mayor Kristie Johnston has warned.

Glenorchy suspended Alderman Matt Stevenson, suspended Mayor Kristie Johnston, suspended Alderman Jan Dunsby. Picture: MATT THOMPSON

THE inquiry into the dysfunctional Glenorchy City Council will extend to 600 days and cost $1 million after aldermen were granted more response time, suspended mayor Kristie Johnston has warned.

Ms Johnston has angrily demanded a “faction of seven” respond to the board of inquiry’s second draft report by the original deadline of May 11.

On Friday, a group of suspended aldermen was granted an extension until June 1.

Flanked at a press conference by colleagues Jan Dunsby and Matt Stevenson, Ms Johnston yesterday let fly at further delays in the 18-month saga.

“I call on those aldermen who are continually delaying and obstructing the board of inquiry process to stop,” she said.

“If they really care about the community they’re supposed to be serving they need to stop this, let the board conclude its report and let the minister make a decision.”

A second draft report was produced after suspended alderman Jenny Branch-Allen took legal action in the Supreme Court last year.

The 165-page report and up to 600 files of evidence were handed to affected parties on April 13.

Ms Johnston said the inquiry had already cost ratepayers $650,000.

“By the time this process is completed it will be probably in excess of $1 million,” she said.

“That includes enormous costs on legal expenses that the faction of seven have incurred and the ratepayers are footing the bill.”

The new delay will take Local Government Minister Peter Gutwein close to the August cut-off date for the six-month suspension.

Once he receives the board’s final report, affected parties will have another two weeks to respond.

Ms Johnston said important decision-making on council amalgamations and TasWater dividends were being delayed by the council’s suspension.

Suspended Alderman Stevenson said ratepayers would feel the burden of the inquiry’s cost.

“That’s a cost that mums and dads, pensioners, business owners of this city are going to have to fork out of their back pocket,” he said.

Glenorchy Ratepayer and Residents Group chairman Phil Butler called on Mr Gutwein to call an immediate fresh council election.

“We call upon those aldermen who are holding the process up to stop what they’re doing, accept the umpire’s decision and get on with it,” Mr Butler said.

The council has been plagued by claims of hostile relationships and abusive behaviour since its election in 2014.

Ms Branch-Allen said the amount of material to be read justified the extension.

“When it’s you and your life and your reputation, and it’s about wanting to make sure that the truth and what actually happened gets out there, surely making sure that process is done properly is important,” she said.

Suspended deputy mayor Harry Quick said blame for the dysfunction could be apportioned to both sides.