Cheryl Dalton
Former SBRC councillor
Cheryl Dalton

January 15, 2013

No further action will be taken on two complaints by Windera man Ralph Percy against former South Burnett councillor Cheryl Dalton.

Mr Percy – who lodged a string of complaints against various South Burnett councillors in November 2012 – alleged Mrs Dalton had engaged in misconduct in relation to Wondai Airport.

He also alleged she had not meaningfully engaged with the community over the possible sale of a portion of Adermann Park in Kingaroy.

However the Regional Conduct Review Panel announced today it would take no further action in relation to either of the complaints.

It cited a section of the Local Government Act that states the Panel may decide to take no further action in relation to a complaint if it considers this would be in the public interest.

Mrs Dalton resigned from Council in June last year after 16 years’ service in local government. After a few months break, she has taken up a senior position at SBCare.

She told southburnett.com.au today that although she was glad the matter had been finalised, she was also feeling disappointed.

“It is not the outcome I would have liked. I would have liked to have had the opportunity to completely clear my name,” she said.

“I know I have done nothing wrong and that would have been proven if there had been a full investigation.

“I just want it out there that I did nothing wrong. I know that I did nothing wrong.”

On Friday, Cr Damien Tessmann was ordered to apologise to Council and pay it $1000 after another complaint from Mr Percy was partially upheld by the Panel.

In a written statement in response, Cr Tessmann said he was disappointed with the recommendations and noted that he had not had the opportunity to speak to the Panel during its deliberations.

southburnett.com.au has since learned that Cr Tessmann has lodged an application with the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal seeking a review of the Panel decision. This application contains copies of a number of emails and a statutory declaration by another councillor.