Campaspe has spent $16,850 over the term of this council to internally resolve 18 code of conduct breaches, with inappropriate behaviour and breaches of the media policy the most prevalent, at five and four instances respectively.
North of the border, Murray River Council has a total of five code of conduct breaches costing their ratepayers $12,500 with no complaints resolved to date.
This is a combined $29,350 for ratepayers across both councils, with MRC's complaints referred to another agency such as the Independent Commission Against Corruption, the NSW Ombudsman or police.
Murray River councillors did not speak to their report which was noted at the February 25 meeting.
However, in the interests of transparency, Campaspe Shire councillors discussed the two reports presented to them.
Of the 18 complaints for Campaspe Shire, two councillors made apologies on their public social media pages and one issued an apology at a council meeting.
Campaspe also had 14 other disputes resolved by the Local Government Inspectorate, with conflicts of interest topping the list at six investigations, a bill council does not have to pay to the state body.
As a result of those investigated by the inspectorate, two warning letters were issued to a councillor, with all other complaints not substantiated.
The immediate previous council had no code of conflict disputes arise, six complaints investigated by the Local Government Inspectorate and one complaint of council failing to provide a safe workplace, which was handled internally at a cost of $29,605.
The two reports were noted at the March 17 Campaspe Shire Council meeting with councillors all in favour of transparency of council.
Annie Vickers spoke about the reports, explaining why councillors had brought the issue to the meeting.
“We had a member of the public ask to see what actions had been taken in this term,” she said.
“I apologise to the community that the request couldn’t be fully met as a civil case is confidential and has been removed.”
Cr Leanne Pentreath expressed concern at last month’s council meeting that the reports could become a witch hunt and reiterated that at this week’s meeting.
“I am against this given my previous comments. It is the number of complaints but not complaints that were unfounded,” she said.
“The data listed in relation to the past two years of complaints is a terrible indictment against council,” Cr Vicki Neele said.
“In the previous council there was a total of six. I personally think we as a council need to get ourselves together and resolves these things.
“We all want the best for our shire … it is disappointing that we leave this record.
“One councillor had 69 per cent of the complaints raised against them and I think it’s a bit of a witch hunt.”
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