Updated July 05, 2017 08:54:27

Photo: Posters from the 2012 election. Two months before the 2017 election, the entire council was sacked. (ABC News: Clare Rawlinson)

Palmerston residents have voiced their support for the suspension of the current council, saying more transparency and public consultation is needed.

The council, now comprised solely of temporary manager Mark Blackburn, held its first meeting last night since all the elected members were suspended last week.

The Northern Territory Government suspended the entire council pending an investigation into potential breeches of the Local Government Act.

Mr Blackburn was asked a number of questions about the investigation, which he said would look broadly about the governance, financial decisions and operation of the council, including administrative staff.

One resident, Donald Young, said he agreed with the NT Government's decision.

"I think it was a good time for them to be suspended," Mr Young said.

"I think there were a lot of questions the public had about the goings on and the decisions that council [made].

"Like closing down the recreational centre and not continuing the relationship with the YMCA, the paid parking that's been introduced in June... and also the signing of the contract to build a multi-story carpark without approval to borrow money for that project."

Mr Young also said he was glad the suspension happened before the upcoming council elections.

"I was really worried that, given we were heading towards an election, that the current council were making decisions that were locking the city in long-term when they might not be the council moving forward."

Another resident, Dorothy Fox, said she thought the council had failed to properly consult the public on key decisions.

"In eight years in Palmerston I haven't seen any of the aldermen consult the community," she said.

"We've never been asked our opinion on anything."

Ms Fox said it was also difficult to obtain copies of reports and that there appeared to be "no order" to the council.

The former chief executive officer of Litchfield Shire, Russel Anderson, has been tasked with investigating the council and will report back to the NT Government by the end of December.

On Wednesday, the investigation officially began into the council's governance, financial status, and the conduct of its councillors, said Gerry McCarthy, Minister for Housing and Community Development.

"Palmerston residents deserve and need to have confidence in their council and trust their best interests underpin all decisions — it is their money being spent after all," he said in a statement.

"While I have placed the council under official management the business of council does not stop and, importantly, both the council manager and the investigator that were announced last week are now in place and are working towards providing certainty to local residents, future elected members and all those with an interest in the City of Palmerston Council."

He said that last month, the council released its draft municipal plan for the five-year period to 2022 for public consultation, outlining its strategies and priorities for development.

"In a fast growing municipality like Palmerston it is extremely important that the plans and initiatives of council are understood and supported by rate payers, residents and local businesses," Mr McCarthy said.

He urged residents to read the draft plan and have their say before the July 11 deadline.

Topics: local-government, government-and-politics, business-economics-and-finance, palmerston-0830, nt

First posted July 05, 2017 07:32:04