Osborne out as Town chief executive

Hedland councillors have removed Mal Osborne as chief executive of the Town of Port Hedland.

Councillors met at a special council meeting until around 10.30pm last night to discuss Mr Osborne’s future, before deciding to part ways.

Mayor Kelly Howlett thanked Mr Osborne “for his outstanding contribution to our community”.

“Mal joined the Town of Port Hedland in October 2012, bringing with him nearly three decades of local government experience,” she said.

“In nearly four years Mal has overseen significant projects, historic transactions and led the organisation through a period of recalibration after extreme growth.”

Mr Osborne did not comment on the council’s decision.

Last night’s meeting came after councillors last month agreed to start a review of Mr Osborne’s role as chief executive.

It also follows the Town’s December council meeting when four councillors had sought to suspend Mr Osborne.

The minutes of that meeting show Deputy Mayor Camilo Blanco put forward a motion requesting that Mr Osborne be suspended pending a series of investigations.

The motion was not passed and instead lapsed on a tied 4-4 vote.

The Town will need to find a new head just a month before State land developer LandCorp presents its final business case to the State Government for the proposed Spoilbank marina and waterfront development.

LandCorp and the Town hope to secure $112 million in State funding for the project.

The Town is also still working on creating a formal plan to manage the $160 million income it earned earlier this year from the lease of Hedland airport to private investors.

Ms Howlett said Mr Osborne had helped the Town undertake important projects.

“Key projects under Mal’s leadership include entering a long-term lease of the Port Hedland International Airport; confirming Spoilbank as council’s preferred location; opening the $3.8 million South Hedland Youth Space (and) progressing the Kingsford Smith Business Park,” she said.

“On behalf of the Town of Port Hedland, I would like to wish Mal and his family all the best for the future.”