THE state government-appointed monitors overseeing Kingston Council have had their stay extended.
The extension was announced on 30 June, the day that the two monitors were scheduled to conclude their stay at council. The monitors’ term is now scheduled to end on 14 August, allowing them to remain at council while the Melaleuca Ward by-election takes place.
The latest extension is the second for the monitors. They were originally scheduled to leave council on 31 December last year, but had six months tacked onto their stay during the Christmas break. The two monitors are paid for by Kingston ratepayers at a cost of more than $1000 a day.
The state government’s decision last week blindsided some at Kingston Council. A media release issued by council at 1pm on 30 June read that the municipal monitors were “finalising work at Kingston”, only for an updated media release to be issued hours later confirming that they were set to stay.
Kingston mayor Cr Georgina Oxley said that council is “focused on serving the Kingston community” while the monitors are there. “Our priority continues to be delivering the services, infrastructure and advocacy our community relies on every day,” Cr Oxley said.
“We will continue to work constructively with the municipal monitors throughout the extended appointment while maintaining our focus on strong governance and delivering positive outcomes for our community.”
Kingston Council’s CEO Peter Bean, who had his contract extended last month, said that council will “continue to support the monitors in their role while delivering for the Kingston community.”
“Our organisation has worked openly and constructively with the monitors throughout their appointment while continuing to deliver more than 100 services to our community,” Bean said. “We remain committed to strong governance, transparency and accountability, while ensuring our community continues to receive the high-quality services, facilities and support they expect from their council.”
The first media release issued by Kingston Council last week read the “the monitors are expected to provide their final report to the Minister for Local Government within the next two to four weeks”. The updated statement read “the Municipal Monitors are now expected to provide their final report to the Minister for Local Government following the conclusion of their appointment on 14 August 2026.”
“The extension was advised late this afternoon by the Minister for Local Government, Paul Hamer, and will see the monitors remain in place through the upcoming Melaleuca Ward by-election before providing their final report to the minister,” the council statement issued last week read.
The decision to re-appoint the monitors sparked a flurry of activity on social media. Deputy mayor Sarah O’Donnell posted “I wish I had a clear answer but I don’t! Zero clarity and as an elected councillor representing the City of Kingston I have not received any information informing me as to why this has happened. I will keep you informed as I can.
“My absolute apologies to all Kingston residents, you deserve better, we all do. The VEC are responsible for the by-election, not monitors!”
Cr Caroline White wrote on Facebook “Labor just can’t help themselves can they? Still playing funny buggers on the City of Kingston ratepayers’ purse”.
First published in the Frankston Times – 7 July 2026