The Western Australian Local Government Minister John Castrilli has announced he will recommend that the Governor declare vacant the remaining councillor positions at the Shire of Cue following the resignations of four councillors in the past two weeks.

 

Three councillors have stood down in the past fortnight and a fourth resigned on Tuesday, amid allegations of financial mismanagement.

 

Mr Castrilli said he would ask the Governor Ken Michael to dissolve the council and appoint a commissioner who would have the powers and functions of the council.

 

He said the fact that four councillors had resigned meant the council could no longer function in accordance with the requirements of the Local Government Act.

 

“Once appointed, the commissioner will be provided assistance from my department.  It is expected that the appointment will be for 12 months,” he said.

 

Former councillor Ron Pawson alleges the shire has a $600,000 deficit because chief executive Peter Money had failed to report that the town's roads were being depreciated at an incorrect rate.

 

According to Shire president Stephen Manning, the error occurred in 2008 and had gone unnoticed by council's offices.