Arabic version: تأجيل انتقال مجلس كوبر بيدي إلى ما بعد الإدارة إلى أجل غير مسمى

According to ABC News, the South Australian government has introduced legislation to indefinitely delay the District Council of Coober Pedy’s transition out of administration. The Far North council, suspended in 2019, had been expected to take part in the April 2027 local government elections, ending its period under an appointed administrator. No new end date has been set.

Local Government Minister Rhiannon Pearce told parliament the council was not ready to return to an elected body. She said principal administrator Patrick Conlon had raised strong concerns about the council’s readiness, citing the seriousness and complexity of issues administrators are working to rectify. The former Liberal government suspended the council in response to soaring debt and findings of maladministration.

Pearce said Coober Pedy’s role as the state’s only council responsible for essential services including water and electricity had exacerbated its challenges. Water delivery is due to transfer to SA Water by the end of the year, while discussions over electricity supply are under way with the Department for Energy and Mining. The bill would also enable a hybrid governance model and provide flexibility over the timing of a transition.

Conlon said water delivery and debt management were the council’s most significant challenges, while indicating progress on both fronts could mean the end of administration was not too far into next year. He said the question was what structure a council should take in a town of only 1,600 people. Business association chair George Kountouris said the council was not ready to leave administration, while caravan park owner Jason Wright said residents were over the arrangement but wanted measures in place for an easier transition.