By LAURA WAKELY
UPDATE: TWO independent reports convinced the Baillieu Government to keep Brimbank City Council under administration until March 2015.
Star yesterday broke the news that councillors would not return to Brimbank when the rest of the state goes to local government elections in October.
It’s unclear whether the two reports will be made public but Local Government Minister Jeanette Powell said their contents, along with the community’s support of the administrators had helped the Government make the decision.
“The weight of advice provided by independent reports was such that the best course of action was to maintain administration while work was finalised,” Ms Powell said.
“Both reports identified that the premature return to an elected council carries the very real risk of a return to the discredited and damaging practices of the past and the derailing of numerous important projects commenced under administration.”
The government will introduce legislation into parliament next week to extend administration.
If successful, Administrators Jo Anderson and Meredith Sussex will step down at the end of October, while Peter Lewinsky will stay on to give “continuity” to the new team, which will be chaired by John Watson.
Mr Watson is the current Executive Director of Local Government Victoria and has previously worked at Moonee Valley and Hume City Councils.
The third new administrator has not been announced but Ms Powell said the position would be filled by someone with strong qualifications in community engagement.
Star has contacted the three current administrators and Mr Watson for comment.
