The hearings started on Tuesday in the Walgett Shire Council Chambers with the appointed commissioner Robert Bulford addressing some of the concerns people have already had with the inquiry.

He referred to complaints that have been made about the disclosure of names of debtors to the council made in a submission by Councillor Charlie Mitchell.

Mr Bulford redeemed Cr Mitchell by stating his disclosure of the document was 'in order and proper'.

However he said once complaints had been made about the list of names he had the document removed from the public view.

The first witness of the day was Lyn Brown from the Department of Local Government who was one of the key investigators in the department's Section 430 report into the council.

Ms Brown said the response the council had made to the report and the recommendations made in the report were ‘adequate and satisfactory'.

She also referred to the bonus paid to the general manager Vic North in 2002 and said the repayment plan suggested of deducting $500 from his pay every fortnight was acceptable.

Former mayor Peter Waterford was the main witness of the day and was questioned by the commissioner for more than four hours.

Mr Waterford said although he wouldn't class himself as an expert in council procedures he felt he did have something to offer council and the ratepayers.

"I'm just a normal bloke off the street, who's pushing Walgett to be one of the better shires in the State," he said.

He said if a public inquiry had not been called he would not have stood for council again, but he didn't want to be seen as running away from the issues.

One of the major issues discussed was the proposed Lightning Ridge Community Centre.

The commissioner was concerned at the amount of time it was taking to get the centre built, and where the money for the centre would come from.

Mr Waterford maintained the Lightning Ridge community would itself fund much of the money needed for the centre.