Former Darebin Mayor Peter Stephenson will remain at Strathbogie Shire after the Victorian government reappointed him as administrator.

Mr Stephenson, whose appointment as interim administrator ended this month, will continue as administrator until the October local elections to ensure continuity of leadership, functions and duties of the council, local government minister Melissa Horne said.

“Residents of Strathbogie deserve a council that serves their needs.

“The Administrator will continue to provide good governance to council until the election in October 2024,” she said.

Mr Stephenson was appointed as municipal monitor at the troubled rural Victorian Shire in May last year in response to ongoing governance issues, the third monitor appointment in just over 12 months.

His predecessor Janet Dore was had been appointed to monitor Strathbogie Shire in March 2022 for three months, extending her previous six month appointment.

The government suspended Council on December 6 2023 for the remainder of its term of office and appointed Mr Stephenson interim administrator until March 6 2024

Announcing Mr Stephenson’s re-appoinment earlier this month, Ms Horne said the government was taking action to improve council accountability, governance and culture across the state through reforms to the Local Government Act 2020.

The government plans to introduce new legislation before this year’s local government elections October to improve governance and integrity standards in Victoria’s 79 councils.

Reforms will introduce mandatory training for elected representatives, a uniform councillor code of conduct and strengthened powers for the Minister to address councillor conduct.