Published 10:59a.m. 21st February 2008

| Staff reporters

Updated 12:46p.m. 21st February 2008

Maroochy Mayor Joe Natoli wants the cost of a planned staff send-off slashed and has revealed that he and other councillors weren’t even invited to the party.

Mr Natoli said today that he knew nothing about the planned $50,000-$60,000 celebration until yesterday.

The plans weren’t discussed at a council meeting, but were considered an “operational matter” and decided on by the council’s CEO and senior managers.

“In fact, councillors weren’t even invited originally,” Mr Natoli said. “When I spoke to my PA yesterday and asked if she’d pencilled it in my diary, she said: ‘You’re not invited!’.

“The managers thought we’d be too busy door-knocking and wouldn’t be interested.”

Mr Natoli said he believed it was important that staff were rewarded for their efforts and that some type of celebration was held to mark the end of the Maroochy Council.

He said the funds to be used for the party had already been allocated for staff training and rewards, however he thought the $40-a-head cost was excessive. Mr Natoli has asked the authority’s managers to look at ways of reducing the total cost of the function to around $20,000.

“I said they need to be mindful that there are people out there who are doing it tough and who may have concerns.

“But I do support the council rewarding our staff … every organisation should look after their staff and try to build morale. It won’t be easy in the first 12 months of the new council and we need staff to be in a really positive frame of mind.”

Earlier, acting CEO Greg Laverty said the Maroochy staff gathering would acknowledge the contribution of past and present employees during the shire’s 117-year history.

“It is very important that our history, culture, achievements and people, both past and present, are recognised and valued for their work with Maroochy Council before they commence work with their new employer, the Sunshine Coast Regional Council,” Mr Laverty said.

“This event, which is part of our change management program, is an important step in helping staff move towards a new and larger organisation.”

The three Coast councils have planned to spend a total of around $140,000 on send-offs for their staff.

Local government minister Warren Pitt criticised lavish pre-amalgamation parties yesterday and urged Caboolture Shire to drop plans for a $52,000 farewell to staff.

All staff have been guaranteed their jobs for at least three years under amalgamation provisions with some ratepayers questioning councils spending money on send-offs when no-one is leaving.

Noosa mayor Bob Abbot told thedaily.com.au today that Noosa believed the money was well spent as it would help boost morale for council staff going into an amalgamated council.

"There was low morale in the organisation (about the forced merger) and we believed it was appropriate to celebrate 98 years of contribution to the community,'' Mr Abbot said.

He said the council had a barbecue for staff and was also holding a community celebration which was open to the public. He said the total bill would be about $30,000.

"I don't think that's inappropriate at all,'' Mr Abbot said.

He said Noosa Council staff had put in a lot of hard work for the community over the years and particularly in recent times preparing for an amalgamated council. He said he was not aware of one complaint from the public.

Mr Abbot said the staff party was a good opportunity to talk to Noosa Council employees about the way forward under the new council structure. "I think it was a valuable exercise.''

He rejected suggestions by rival Mr Natoli that Noosa Council was the least prepared for amalgamation because it had spent so much effort fighting it.

"We fought the fight. We fought it as far as we could but 95% of the people I talk to in Noosa say 'we didn't want it but let's get on with it.''

Coast businessman Ken Reed, of Reed Property Group, said he saw nothing wrong with the send-offs as long as costs were kept within reason.

Mr Reed said his company spent about $20,000 a year on its Christmas Party to acknowledge staff and reward them for their efforts with awards.

Reed has about 100 staff compared to Maroochy's 1500. Maroochy will spend about $60,000 on its celebration.

The company also often put on events for staff to acknowledge their hard work.

"I don't think it is inappropriate to have a farewell.''

Caboolture pulled the plug on its party for staff and their families after the minister labelled the outlay “excessive and over the top’’.

Caloundra council will hold a $30,000 community celebration on March 9 and spend $20,000 on a staff celebration on March 14.

CEO Gary Storch said amalgamation marked a turning point in the region’s history and staff deserved to be thanked for their magnificent contribution.

“We’ve had staff who have been with us for 30 or 35 years and we want to thank them for a fantastic effort,” Mr Storch said.

“Anyone who criticises that does not understand the incredible effort our people have put in because they love their community.”

About 350 employees and family members turned out for Noosa’s staff function last weekend, which cost between $20,000 and $25,000. A further $10,000 will fund filming of the final council meeting, followed by a dinner for past and present councillors.

Caboolture Shire Council was planning throw a bash for 900 staff – spending $1,600 on clowns and magicians alone - at the Caboolture Showgrounds on March 12, three days before the poll.

The party was supposed to mourn the end of the 128-year-old council, which will merge with Pine Rivers Shire and Redcliffe under the state government’s sweeping council reforms.

But Caboolture mayor Joy Leishman yesterday pulled the pin on the party following negative media coverage.

Local Government Minister Warren Pitt said the council had “made the right decision, even if it is to overturn a wrong one”.

“I simply don’t believe the council could justify spending $52,000 of ratepayers’ money on a staff function such as this,” Mr Pitt said.

He said other councils were also commemorating their end.

“But the cost of the function planned in this particular case was excessive,” Mr Pitt said.

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