ISSN 1833-1831 Tourist Park Coober Pedy 08 86 725 691 BULLS GARAGE On-site Service Centre Phone: 86 725 036 Tel: 08 8672 5920 https://cooberpedytimes.com Thursday 10 October 2019 INTRODUCING DEAN MILLER, NEW CEO AT COOBER PEDY COUNCIL The new CEO at Coober Pedy District Council, Dean Miller says he is thrilled to have been appointed to the position. Dean Miller rolled into town on Sunday 29 September, just in time to attend a Concerned Resident Group meeting at the Greek Hall, addressing council accountability. While many may expect such a meeting to be a culture shock for an incoming CEO, Dean said that he has worked in country councils before. Dean is an experienced leader having been the CEO at Hindmarsh Shire Council and Swan Hill Rural City Council, both in Victoria. He has had an extensive career spanning 30 years predominantly in local government. His leadership and people skills are his main attributes, along with very strong financial management and strategic planning experience. Dean is a Certified Practising Accountant and grew up in Geelong. When asked his age, he responded with, “46, plus GST”. “The challenges of the role and the opportunity to help place the Council and community on a more sustainable footing were key factors in my decision to accept the role”, Mr Miller said. He added, “My focus for the first 100 days will be to engage with as many people as possible to understand their aspirations and priorities for the future. The results of these discussions will, amongst other things, guide my decision-making for the term of my contract.” District Council of Coober Pedy CEO Dean Miller. His career to date spans 30 years, predominantly in local government. Dean is also a Certified Practicing Accountant The Concerned Resident RESIDENT GROUP WANTS FINANCIAL Group ACCOUNTABILITY STRENGTHENED At a 100 strong town meeting held on Sunday 29 In presenting his case to the councillors Acting CEO Colin Special September at the Greek Hall in Coober Pedy, the Pitman said, "The council has a challenge in that it needs local residents demonstrated that they would not to make a decision on outstanding debt which is tolerate overtones of bureaucracy vs democracy accumulated over a considerable period of time and TOWN MEETING when it came to transparancy and accountability of whether they actually pay some of it, or pay all of it, or community finances. contest it, or ask for some alternative arrangement for GREEK HALL payment. I don't think it's an easy decision... I think it's The gathering of residents at a town meeting was to address important that you have all the facts before you..." deeper concerns than the community believe are not being SUNDAY 13 Oct 2pm addressed adequately “...there are around $6M in drawn down debenture loans outstanding, and monies provided by the state to offset Members of the Concerned Resident Group asked Acting the EDL payments [RAES Subsidy] were being put into Discussion Topics CEO Colin Pitman to explain why he had drawn down general funds and used for other things.” $1,035,000 from a debenture loan, and transfered significant funds from departmental budgets totalling over Councillors discussed key factors including drawing down $1.9M, and where had he applied these funds. more funds from a Debenture Loan to pay the outstanding ♦ POLL Voting questions EDL invoice; how they would pay future accounts; the On the 27 November 2018 new councillors were called Ombudsman's damning report of the previous council, ♦ Town Sewerage system -(new rates) to a Special Council Meeting where they were told by the and the imminent Auditor General’s report. Acting CEO that an Invoice had been received from EDL ♦ Water: asset and increases 69% (Energy supplier) for $1.8M with 7 days notice to pay. Councillors discussed the wisdom in deferring drawing down of any funds until they had received and viewed After lengthy discussions the council resolved not to draw the Auditor General’s report. ♦ Power interruptions 9am - 3pm ? down funds from a Debenture loan / Cash Advance Facility being the LGFA for reasons agreed upon at the Acting CEO Colin Pitman suggested that he speak with ♦ Olive trees at orchard special council meeting. EDL and tell them of the matters that council was discussing. ♦ Class Action - Council’s advice re: From Acting CEO Report [27-11-2018] The following financial report is designed to detail the Mayor Les Hoad asked for a vote, “All in favour of solar panels following deferring it [drawing-down funds] until we get the Auditor General's report.” ♦ Followup on $1.8M debenture 1. The current position as at the date of this meeting. withdrawal 2. Loan Debenture Councillors unanimously resolved to wait until the Auditor General’s Report was in hand. It was later found that The notification is given of the need drawdown the Mr. Pitman drew down and transferred funds the following approved CAD facility to meet a demand letter by EDL to morning 28-11-2018; eight days before the Auditor ALL ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND meet net outstanding debts.... Interest of 6.5% is being General’s Report was presented. charged on this debt. Continued page 5 SERVING THE OPAL CAPITAL OF THE WORLD SINCE 1982 The COOBER PEDY REGIONAL TIMES is ‘WORLD WIDE’ READ Newspaper FREE online at: https://cooberpedytimes.com/ ABOUT US 7 DAYS WEATHER Email: [email protected] Coober Pedy is an underground town built on the back of opal mining Coober Pedy Oodnadatta Tarcoola Andamooka Roxby Downs The annual rainfall in the area is around 175 mm (5 inches) per annum * The CPRT newspaper first became DIGITAL/ ONLINE in 2006. Although online is now the DUGOUT trend copies are still printed locally. South Editor - Margaret Mackay PO Box 275 Coober Pedy SA 5723 Ph: (08) 8672 5920 Email: [email protected] Autumn Equinox is on https://cooberpedytimes.com/ Friday, 20 March 2020 at 2:49 pm AEDT Next Newspapers December solstice is on Bi Monthly Sunday, 22 December 2019 Thursday 24 Oct 2019 at 2:49 pm Thursday 14 Nov 2019 Thursday 28 Nov 2019 Daylight saving ends in SA Thursday 12 Dec 2019 at 2:00 am on Thursday 07 Feb 2020 Sunday, 5 April 2020 Advertising Rates Display $6.50 per cm/col Classified $8.00 per cm/col Bookings and Material must be in Fri prior to publication EMAILING LIST If you would like to be on a fortnightly email- out send your preferred email address to [email protected] The Coober Pedy Regional Times “Your Outback Communities Newspaper” CPRT became a FREE Newspaper in 2006 and increased its distribution to 4,500 hard copies + Free Online Newspaper, promoting news, events thus distributing advertising to tourists and to nearby communities and towns. The CPRT receives no external funding. A local newspaper is the voice of the people. A truly free and independent press is a vital component of any healthy democratic society. [...] the prime value of journalism is that it imposes Opalised Shells...Coober Pedy Opal Field (Dean Bulovic) transparency, and thus accountability, on those who wield the greatest governmental and Coober Pedy THE OPAL CAPITAL OF THE WORLD corporate power. ~ Glenn Greenwald, Laura Poitras and Jeremy Scahill is an underground town built on the back of opal mining CONTRIBUTORS Things to do in Coober Pedy TOM’S UNDERGROUND working mine, ‘Media releases’ may be submitted however there Take a tour to the natural landscapes outside is no obligation on the newspaper to publish any & THE OLD TIMER’S MINE at Crowder’s the town (see film locations like Mad Max: Beyond part of it. 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