As the independent administrator for Moira Shire, Mr Tanner was brought in to steady the council after the councillors were dismissed following the Commission of Inquiry.
Mr Tanner, whose role as administrator lasts until June when the three permanent administrators arrive, told the Courier that on hearing about his position, he was excited about being part of the change Moira Shire was about to see.
“After being part of the panel of inquiry and knowing what had taken place here in Moira, I thought it was a great opportunity to take that foot forward and to be part of the rebuild and the reset,” he said.
With some confusion within the community regarding the difference between an administrator and a mayor or chief executive, Mr Tanner said he was government-appointed rather than elected.
Regardless of how he came to Moira Shire, he has been welcomed and supported by staff and the general community.
Mr Tanner said his job as administrator was to lay the groundwork for Moira Shire’s new beginning and that work would be continued by the permanent administrators.
Asked about what it was like to steady the council after such a turbulent time, Mr Tanner said his focus was always on the wellbeing of the people of Moira Shire.
“The first priority was to ensure that staff, who have gone through a very, very turbulent time, that they were in a good position in regards to their wellbeing,’’ he said.
“That was the top priority and continues to be that.
“Next priority was to look at all aspects of the council and how it operates.
“There was a number of recommendations came that out of the commission of inquiry.
“And those issues need to be addressed.”
According to Mr Tanner, many of these issues are well on track to be resolved while others are being resolved more slowly.
“What I’ll be doing is putting that work in progress, so that the panel of administrators can then pick up on that work,” Mr Tanner said.
Mr Tannner said while people in the community might have negative opinions towards councils in general they played a critical role in good governance.
“It’s (a) very, very important role,’’ he said.
“That is the tier of government that is closest to the people.
“And for that reason, local government needs to, to engage very, very closely with the ratepayers and all people in the community.’’
Mr Tanner said that council, despite being under administrators, was in good hands.
“I think the important thing is that people should not be too concerned about administrators being part of this council.”
