Despite the State Government appointing a financial controller and governance adviser, Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council Mayor Robert Poi Poi says there is no need for community concern, adding there will be “no delays in the processing and approval of payments to suppliers and staff”. Photo: Supplied.
The mayor of Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council (NPARC) has told the community “there is no need to have concerns” about the embattled organisation despite the State Government appointing finance and governance experts to oversee operations for the next six months.
On 8 August, the council acknowledged the Department of Housing, Local Government, Planning and Public Works (DHLGPPW) had appointed a financial controller and governance adviser in the wake of criticism about NPARC’s strategic, operational and financial management.
In a statement, Mayor Robert Poi Poi urged NPA residents and business owners not to worry about the appointment of BDO partner Ben Schierhuber as financial controller and former Noosa Shire Council chief executive officer Brett de Chastel as governance adviser.
“The department has advised [the appointment] relates to resolving financial challenges, high staff turnover and governance issues,” Mayor Poi Poi, who replaced former mayor Patricia Yusia following the 16 March local government elections, said.
“The council has faced significant challenges over the last 10 to 15 years including resource allocation, loss of self-determination, loss of community governance structures, financial deficits and high staff turnover.
“I wish to reiterate to the community that there is no need to have concerns about NPARC’s future or to pass judgement on the previous [c]ouncils or any staff.”
On its website, BDO describes Mr Schierhuber as specialising in business turnaround and restructuring, forensics, corporate insolvency and viability assessments.
In June, the council voted unanimously to adopt an operating loss of more $5.7 million for the 2024-25 financial year, and Cape York Weekly understands two of NPARC’s six elected members have already expressed an interest in investigating de-amalgamation and returning to a community council model.
While neither Minister for Housing, Local Government, Planning and Public Works Meaghan Scanlon or the department would respond specifically to questions put to them by Cape York Weekly, a DHLGPPW source said there was “real worry” about nepotism and the performance of senior NPARC staff.
“You’ll find it’ll be like a house of cards when the finance and governance appointees pull back the covers,” the source said.
“You’ve got executive staff and other managers who seem to be in the role by virtue of being family or friend of someone in council, rather than being competent and qualified to do the job.
“There’s a lot of question marks about finances and where money’s going, too, so I expect there’ll be a few empty seats within the next six months.”
A department spokesperson told Cape York Weekly “[t]he Department of Housing, Local Government, Planning and Public Works appointed a financial controller and a governance advisor to the Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council for an initial six-month period” and that “[a]ny need to extend their appointment would be determined on the outcomes of the initial six months”.
“If someone believes a council officer, councillor or mayor has acted inappropriately, they should make a complaint to the Office of the Independent Assessor or the Crime and Corruption Commission,” the spokesperson said.
In the 8 August statement, Mayor Poi Poi said “NPARC will ensure community is kept up to date on any information or developments” over the coming six months, and encouraged stakeholders to attend upcoming community meetings about the council’s situation.
Mayor Robert Poi Poi has told the NPA community the six-month appointment of a financial controller and governance expert relates to “resolving financial challenges, high staff turnover and governance issues” within the council. Photo: Supplied.
