Douglas Shire Council gets reprieve on sacking

By Adam Coleman

North Queensland's Douglas Shire Council has received a reprieve after ‘showing cause’ as to why it should not be dissolved, but it still has to prove it is on the road to recovery.

Local Government and Planning Minister, Andrew Fraser, issued the council with a ‘show cause’ notice following two separate investigations that found the council to be often dysfunctional.

Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) president, Paul Bell said LGAQ staff and consultants were working intensively with the council on a 22-part recovery plan response to the notice, required by the state government.

Douglas Shire will face another challenge in three months time when the Minister will assess progress on the council's 22-part plan for recovery.