Peterborough council loses third boss in 18 months as chief executive resignsABC North and West SATopic:Local Government1h ago1 hours agoTue 6 May 2025 at 9:06pmPeterborough District Council did not comment on Ms Babic's resignation. (Supplied: District Council of Peterborough)In short:Peterborough District Council chief executive officer Leanne Babic has stepped down after just two months in the role.She is the third council CEO to resign in 18 months.What's next?Ms Babic says she and the council are preparing a statement about the matter.abc.net.au/news/peterborough-council-ceo-quits-after-two-months/105253336Link copiedShareShare articleA council in South Australia's mid north has lost its third chief executive in less than 18 months, amid mounting concern from locals and the region's state MP. Peterborough District Council chief executive Leanne Babic resigned from her $170,000-a-year post in late April, after starting just two months earlier.A special closed-door council meeting to discuss the resignation on April 29 lasted an hour and 17 minutes.Under Local Government Act powers, it was held in confidence to prevent "the unreasonable disclosure of information concerning the personal affairs of any person".The ABC has contacted Ms Babic and Peterborough Mayor Ruth Whittle for comment.Peterborough Mayor Ruth Whittle, SA Governor Frances Adamson and Leanne Babic, who quit as CEO after two months. (Source: LinkedIn)Ms Babic, who is listed as a deputy chair of Diabetes SA and has worked in health care, began in the role on February 17 following the departure of Mark Austin.Mr Austin had been in the job since February 2024 and was previously chief executive of Coober Pedy Council, after taking over from Stephen Rufus.Mr Rufus left the role after two years.'Concerns about stability'Independent Member for Stuart Geoff Brock, a former local government minister, said he had raised the matter with current minister Joe Szakacs."As a former mayor and councillor, I really have some concerns about stability and that there does seem to be some staffing challenges," Mr Brock said.A spokesperson for Mr Szakacs said the Local Government Act ensured "all South Australian councils are held to the highest standard with the expectation that this standard is extended to councillors and staff".However, he has not requested a briefing about the staff turnover at this stage.Peterborough has had three CEOs in 18 months. (Supplied: Peterborough District Council)Victoria Kenny, a Peterborough local and co-creator of the Peterborough Residents and Ratepayers Group on Facebook, said she was concerned about the cost to ratepayers associated with staff recruitment."It felt like just yesterday they announced that we had a new CEO," Ms Kenny said."I think the announcement came out in March, and now at the end of April the resignation, so it's quite stunning really."We have a wonderful council, and wonderful councillors … we see each other in the street quite often, but you do have to ask, 'What is the problem?'"Several councillors contacted by the ABC said they were not authorised to comment.Posted 1h ago1 hours agoTue 6 May 2025 at 9:06pm, updated 1h ago1 hours agoTue 6 May 2025 at 9:27pmShare optionsCopy linkFacebookX (formerly Twitter)Top StoriesThree dead after India strikes nine Pakistan sites, officials sayLIVEIndia claims targets in Pakistan were 'terrorist infrastructure'BREAKINGPhoto shows pakistan KasmireCourt orders release of 'vicious' CCTV footage after three-year legal battleTopic:CrimePhoto shows External images of Reiby Youth Detention Centre.Who won the election culture wars? 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