Town claims confidence after staff exodus

The Town of Port Hedland refuses to concede its leadership team has been gutted, despite three of four senior employees leaving.

The exodus began in June when the council removed chief executive Mal Osborne from his position, followed by the departures of Brendan Smith and Dale Stewart.

Mr Stewart had joined the Town on a short-term contract to replace another senior employee Sid Jain who left in March.

Peter Kocian has also left the local authority.

Acting Mayor Camilo Blanco did not respond toTelegraph questions about whether staff morale was low at the Town, whether councillors had sought to push the executives from their positions and how many other employees had left since June.

He instead said he backed the Town’s leadership team, despite no new employees yet being hired to fill the vacancies.

“The council has great faith in the depth of experience of our leadership team to ensure the effective leadership of the organisation and delivery of key projects,” he said.

Combined with the resignation last month of former mayor Kelly Howlett, the recent exits come as the Town pursues two of the biggest projects in its history.

Its plans to build a $152 million Spoilbank marina and a waterfront shopping and tourist precinct hang in the balance this month as the State Government debates whether to release $112 million funding for the project.

Additionally, the Town has yet to release a detailed plan of how it intends to manage the $160 million income it earned earlier this year from the lease of Hedland Airport to private investors.

Mr Blanco said councillors were confident they could soon appoint a new and highly qualified chief executive.

“I understand there has been a high level of interest in the position, which is great,” he said.

“Council will look to appoint (the new chief executive) in the coming months and the director corporate services and director works and services soon after that.”