Published on Monday, 28 April 2025 at 8:16:59 PM
At tonight’s Special Council Meeting (28 April 2025), Council considered the findings of an independent probity review into the process that led to a Water Supply Agreement with Lynas Rare Earths.
Commissioned in late 2023, the review was undertaken by Civic Legal to assess whether the City’s internal governance processes supported fully informed decision-making when entering into the Agreement at the time.
The review found no evidence of misconduct or intentional wrongdoing by any individual staff member or elected official. Instead, the findings identified areas for improvement in the City’s internal processes and information-sharing practices at the time.
Specifically, it found that Council did not have full knowledge of all relevant matters relating to the broader implications of the Water Supply Agreement, the costs associated with supplying the water, and the availability of water without future capturing arrangements. They were, however, briefed on other matters, including the proposed sale price of water, and the infrastructure required as part of the Agreement.
Mayor Glenn Wilson acknowledged the community’s desire for openness and, along with all members of Council, expressed disappointment that the report could not be made public.
“We know members of our community want to see the full report; however, our legal and contractual obligations do not allow this. What we can assure residents is that the key findings have been shared publicly, and we’re acting on them,” he said.
“We initiated this review because we take our responsibilities seriously. It’s about learning from the past and continuing to improve how we govern and make decisions.”
“The City has already taken steps over the past few years to strengthen its governance and decision-making processes. A Governance Framework was adopted in 2022, providing clear guidance on the roles and responsibilities of Officers and Elected Members.”
“Further improvements made throughout 2023 and 2024 include updated Council report templates and more robust risk assessment processes. These initiatives have been a part of the City’s ongoing commitment to continuous improvement and will continue to be embedded and refined over time,” said Mayor Wilson.
As part of the report recommendations, the City will further update the Governance Framework to reflect the learnings from report.
Mayor Wilson said, “This Council is committed to doing better, being better, and ensuring every decision made is based on the best information available."
Read the report on the Special Council Meeting Agenda here.
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