Geelong’s new “mayor” is a woman from Melbourne who previously served as the city’s council chief, the Andrews Government has announced.
Dr Kathy Alexander has joined two other experienced bureaucrats as City of Greater Geelong administrators who will act as Geelong’s council for the next 17 months.
Their appointment follows the Government sacking the previous 13-member council last month. A three-month Commission of Inquiry recommended the termination, largely over bullying allegations.
The government named former Committee for Geelong executive director Peter Dorling and Metropolitan Planning Authority deputy chair Laurinda Gardner as the other two administrators.
City Hall said Dr Alexander would earn $258,610 for a minimum three days a week working “physically” in Geelong. Her colleagues would earn $135,464 each for a minimum two days weekly at City Hall.
“The appointment of the administrators is about returning good governance to the people of Geelong and a safe working environment to council staff,” said Local Government Minister Natalie Hutchins.
“Geelong deserves to have a competent and productive elected council but first the administrators must get in and fix the serious problems the Commission of Inquiry uncovered.”
Dr Alexander would “fulfil the role of mayor” as chair of the administrators, the government said.
She was City of Melbourne CEO for six years and most recently held the same position at the body governing Victoria’s royal children’s and women’s hospitals. The Government recently appointed Mr Dorling to its Geelong Authority for overseeing development of the central city area but he will step down to take on the administrator role.
