Municipal monitors called back ahead of mayoral elections

The state government has once again stepped in to force oversight on the Geelong council, citing ongoing governance concerns.

Peter Dorling and Mark Davies were appointed on Tuesday as municipal monitors effective immediately, less than three months since the previous monitors’ term finished.

Dorling and Prue Digby were initially appointed as monitors to the City of Greater Geelong beginning January last year, for a period of 12 months.

Their final report noted that although the council had made progress, “work is still required to improve its governance policies, processes and practices”.

The new monitors will be in place until the end of this year and have a mandate to work closely with the council’s chief executive to ensure governance improvements are fully implemented and to have stability at the council during the election of a new mayor.

Council elections will be held across the state in October 2024.

Minister for Local Government Melissa Horne thanked Dorling and Digby for their work as monitors.

“Their report shows that work still needs to be done to improve governance practices at the council, and the appointment of Mr Dorling and Mr Davies as municipal monitors will support that work,” she said.