Clarence Valley Council suspended as minister appoints administrator

Key points

• NSW Local Government Minister Ron Hoenig has suspended Clarence Valley Council for three months. He has appointed John Rayner PSM as interim administrator to take over the council's functions.
• The decision follows the council's unanimous request for an external investigation into concerns about its governance, administration and financial management. Hoenig said he reasonably believed the appointment was necessary to restore the council's proper functioning.
• The suspension follows weeks of leadership turmoil, including the termination of former general manager Laura Black's contract in September.