The Registrar of Indigenous Corporations, Mr Anthony Beven, has today placed the Many Rivers Regional Housing Management Services Aboriginal Corporation under special administration.
Based in Kempsey on the north coast of New South Wales, the corporation was registered under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Act) 2006 (CATSI Act) in June 2008.
Many Rivers was established to manage residential properties on behalf of housing organisations on the north coast and in surrounding regions. It currently manages about 350 properties, 149 of which are owned by the Aboriginal Housing Office in New South Wales.
‘My office undertook an examination of the corporation’s books in June 2012 and a number of concerns were drawn to my attention,’ said Mr Beven. ‘The examination raised questions about the standard of corporate governance and financial management at the corporation.’
The corporation has traded at a loss since July 2011. The majority of the directors of Many Rivers supported the action of the Registrar.
Mr Beven has appointed Mr Glen Walker from the Queensland-based accounting firm Walker Reid as the special administrator.
‘I want to see the corporation’s affairs put back in order as soon as possible,’ said Mr Beven. ‘The corporation manages social and community housing and it is too important to fail.’
The special administrator has been appointed for six months.
Background
Special administration is a special measure under the CATSI Act which helps corporations to fix their problems. The aim of the process is to restore a corporation to good health and once this is achieved to return control to members as soon as possible. For more information please see ORIC’s fact sheet Special administrations: what members and directors should know, available at www.oric.gov.au.
Media contact
Patricia Gibson
(02) 6146 4743
Ref: ORIC MR1213-03
Special administrator
Glen Walker
(07) 5494 3744
0408 739 404
walkerreid@bigpond.com