Calls for administrator to take reigns at Wagga City Council

A former councillor and the head of a Wagga ratepayers' group have called for a “new set of eyes” to address what they claim is a "toxic culture" at the Civic Centre. 

Outspoken former councillor Julian McLaren said long-serving councillors should "look in the mirror”. 

The criticism comes as Mr McLaren urged councillors to “take responsibility” for the hiring of a succession of failed GMs, including the controversial outgoing of Alan Eldridge. 

“There’s one constant in all of this – the councillors,” Mr McLaren said. 

“At some stage we have to start looking at the ones who are selecting the GMs.” 

Mr Eldridge was fired on Monday night after standing aside more than three months ago amid claims he failed to declare his son’s involvement in a property development while he was in charge of the planning department.

Council has remained tight-lipped about the reasons behind the sacking of its GM, refusing to disclose the costs of the long-running saga to the city. 

Wagga Ratepayers Community chief Wes Fang joined Mr McLaren in calling for a “top down council clean-out ”, before hiring another GM. 

“I don’t think we have the depth of talent in councillors to pull us out of this,” Mr Fang said. 

“I would certainly be looking at the mechanics behind appointing an administrator, as part of a broader discussion about what Wagga wants from its council.” 

Mayor Greg Conkey said he would not support the installation of a council administrator. 

“An administrator wouldn’t know the local situation, our councillors have their fingers on the pulse in representing the community,” Mr Conkey said. 

“We’re hard-working representatives from all walks of life, accessible at all times.” 

Mr Conkey said a community representative or another council’s GM may be put on the selection panel for the appointment process, as had previously occurred. 

Mr Fang said if an administrator was not installed, council would need to immediately disclose how they would fix “ongoing cultural issues”. 

“Council needs to articulate to ratepayers what they’re going to do to get the trust and confidence back,” Mr Fang said. 

While the pair plastered a bright spotlight of accountability on the councillors, Mr McLaren also called out the wider community for electing the same core group. 

Wagga MP Daryl Maguire said the termination of Mr Eldridge was “entirely of the council’s making”, expressing concern about the whererabouts of an Office of Local Government report. 

“I am concerned that this decision was based on a report commissioned by council and not the official report from the office of local government, which is the ultimate authority,” Mr Maguire said. 

“The council need to explain their actions openly and transparently because ratepayers deserve to know.”

The NSW Office of Local Government said they were unable to comment.