Council staff being investigated
• A visual of the Trail Snaps website, the business at the centre of the LGAT investigation.
By Taylor Clyne
December 21, 2022
Explosive claims have come to light this week that Council staff members are involved with possibly breaching the Local Government Act with a new business start-up, Trail Snaps.
Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) listed the former general manager Tim Watson, his wife Amanda, and current Director of Infrastructure Dwaine Griffin as well as another male Glen Donnellan (who is not a council employee) as the directors of the Derby based business.
It’s understood a potential breach occurred of Local Government Act 339a ‘misuse of office’ whereby a Councillor, employee or close associate/family member must not procure the doing of anything by the Council to gain or in directly gain.
The understanding is that the pair would directly profit from the success of the company through Derby’s worldwide popularity.
Furthermore, during Mr Watson’s time as general manger he approved the businesses start up without the knowledge of other Council staff or declaring the intent of his role in the company.
In September it’s alleged Mr Watson caught wind of the status being community knowledge and removed himself as a director, replacing the title with Mr Griffin’s long-time partner.
The following month Mr Watson advised Council that he was going on sick leave for a period of four weeks from October 3, leave that he never returned from until his resignation on December 5.
Trail Snaps captures action shots of riders live on trails and filters the pictures through to a highly useable website from which riders can purchase for $15 per image.
In an uncanny coincidence the mountain bike business mirrors the same model as a highly successful Whistler product ‘Bike Park Photos’.
The two websites feature many similarities.
Executive Director of the Office of Local Government Mathew Healey said he was aware of the situation.
“I am aware that these claims have been made, but we are not in the position to comment on the scope of any investigation while they are continuing,” he said.
Current general manager John Marik said Council was alerted to this matter by a local resident.
“We are in the process of investigating the matter and its implications,” he said.
It’s understood a concerned Derby community member reported it to LGAT.
As to what action will be taken, a maximum fine penalty cannot exceed 50 penalty units which is around $5,000.
The investigation sits with the Local Government Office for an outcome in the new year.