Change of Cook council leaders

COOK Shire Council is under new temporary leadership after the majority of councillors voted not to renew former chief executive Timothy Cronin’s contract.

Ray Burton, who has served at the helm of Townsville City Council for eight years and Pine Rivers Council in Brisbane for six years, will stay in the position until a permanent chief executive has been appointed.

The process could take several months.

Since retiring from the Townsville council in 2016, Mr Burton has filled several interim chief executive positions including at Fraser Coast and North Burnett councils, and other local government project and advisory roles, including at Doomadgee for three months. He said he looked forward to joining the Cook Shire community.

Mayor Peter Scott said the shire was fortunate to have such an experienced leader at the council while a replacement was being sought.

“His recent stints as interim CEO in other councils also means he is used to hitting the ground running and he knows some of the unique challenges we face in the Far North after his time at Townsville and Doomadgee,” Cr Scott said.

At the December 2017 ordinary meeting of Cook Shire Council, councillors voted 4-3 not to renew Mr Cronin’s contract.

Cr Scott said he could not reveal the reasons behind the vote but Cook Shire Ratepayers and Residents Association secretary Toni Leigh said the organisation had been campaigning for the past year to have Mr Cronin (above) removed.

It is understood Mr Cronin commuted between Brisbane, where his wife and family is based, and the Far North.

The former partner of risk advisory services business BDO was appointed in 2015.

The Cairns Post attempted to contact Mr Cronin for comment but was unsuccessful.

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