Coober Pedy: A Town Under Siege by State-Appointed Administration
Posted on: 2024-11-30 18:51:12
In 2019, Coober Pedy witnessed the beginning of a state-led intervention that was supposed to save the town from financial ruin. Instead, nearly six years later, residents find themselves burdened with ever-mounting debt and relentless increases in essential service costs—all under the stewardship of state-appointed administrators. This story exposes the glaring failures of the South Australian government's handling of Coober Pedy's administration and raises serious questions about accountability and governance.
*The Timeline of Administrative Failures
When the District Council of Coober Pedy was sacked in 2019, Tim Jackson was appointed as the town’s first administrator to address claims of maladministration. At the time, the council was reported to be in $9 million debt—a significant but potentially manageable figure. Yet, during Mr. Jackson’s tenure and a subsequent interim administrator’s term, the debt continued to balloon.
By the time the state government appointed a team of three administrators—head administrator Mr. Geoff Sheridan, supported by Ms. Erika Vickery and Mr. John Moyle—the council's debt had climbed to over $13 million. Now, under the newly appointed administrator, Mr. Patrick Conlon, the debt has reportedly exceeded $19 million, as suggested during a recent Coober Pedy Alliance group meeting. These figures paint a damning picture of administrative mismanagement and a lack of effective intervention by the state government.
*A Burden Placed on Locals
Coober Pedy’s residents have endured relentless hikes in rates, power, and water costs—essential services critical to survival in this remote town. These increases have forced some locals to abandon their homes and even leave the community. Despite repeated pleas from residents to reconsider these punitive measures, administrators have pushed forward, seemingly indifferent to the hardship they inflict.
Mr. Conlon’s reported statement at a recent meeting encapsulates this attitude: “You will not like some things I carry out or things that need to be done, but I am not here to be liked or make friends.” Such rhetoric highlights the disconnect between state-appointed administrators and the community they claim to serve. These administrators are not beholden to the people of Coober Pedy, nor do they face the electoral accountability that would motivate local councilors to act in their constituents' best interests.
*The State Government’s Role
The South Australian government cannot absolve itself of responsibility for this fiscal mess. Local government, enshrined in the state constitution despite two national referendums rejecting its establishment, remains under the purview of the state government. It was under their watch that Coober Pedy’s council accrued its initial debt, and it is under their appointed administrators that the debt has more than doubled.
The question must be asked: Why has the state government allowed this crisis to deepen? Why have they failed to implement measures that provide relief to the town's residents rather than exacerbate their struggles? The evidence suggests a profound failure of oversight and a lack of commitment to resolving the underlying issues.
*A Call to Action
This reporter urges the people of Coober Pedy to redirect their focus. It is clear that state-appointed administrators are not the solution; they are part of the problem. They have no stake in the town's future and no accountability to its residents. Instead, it is time to lobby the state government—the body ultimately responsible for this crisis.
Engage your family and friends across South Australia. Make them aware of Coober Pedy’s plight and the state government’s role in perpetuating it. Use your collective voices to demand change and hold the government accountable for its promises. With nearly six years of evidence, it is indisputable that the current system is failing. It is time for the South Australian government to act decisively to fix the mess they created.
Coober Pedy deserves better. Its residents deserve better. The time for action is now.
- Clark Kent