Victorian country shire chief charged

The chief executive of a Victorian country council is facing 41 charges, including allegations of corporate credit card misuse.

Mark Johnston, CEO of the Central Goldfields Shire which takes in the township of Maryborough, was served via his lawyers and the charges filed in the Melbourne Magistrates' Court on Friday, the Local Government Investigations and Compliance Inspectorate said.

He is charged under the Local Government Act with two counts of conflict-of-interest, 34 counts of obtaining financial advantage by deception and five counts of false accounting.

It is understood many of the fraud charges relate to the use of his corporate credit card.

In a statement, chief municipal inspector David Wolf said the charges were laid after a long and complex investigation with several matters dating back a number of years.

"(The) Central Goldfields Shire Council Mayor has been advised of the matter," the statement says.

Johnston is listed to appear at the Maryborough Magistrates Court on August 31.

The Central Goldfields Shire has been contacted for comment.