Millicent community radio station 5THE-FM will cease transmitting this week.

After more than 30 years of transmission, the local airwaves will be silenced for the time being.

The Australian Communications and Management Authority has decided not to extend the station’s licence.

Its decision was conveyed in writing to 5THE-FM on Thursday afternoon and ACMA published a media release the following day.

New 5THE-FM management board chairman David Walshaw said the ACMA has formed the view the Millicent station has not demonstrated that it has the financial and management capacity to provide the broadcasting service or that it would meet the existing and perceived future needs of the community.

Mr Walshaw said the previous management of the Millicent station has also not provided the ACMA with recent comprehensive financial information.

“It has failed to hold the 2022 annual general meeting within three months of the end of the financial year, as required by its constitution, and failed to hold annual general meetings in 2020 and 2021,” Mr Walshaw said.

“ACMA found that 5THE-FM has not provided sufficient evidence that it has mechanisms in place to identify and monitor the needs of the community, nor has it shown how its programming meets the needs of the local community.

“In addition, the ACMA has not been provided with sufficient information establishing who has legal authority to manage and control the affairs of 5THE-FM.

“All of these matters pre-date the current 5THE-FM management board and reflect the governance decisions and licence submission of the former board and station management.

“These and many other scenarios are the legacy issues the current management board inherited four weeks ago.”

Mr Walshaw said the relevant financial records had yet to be located by the new management board.

He said the Millicent station will continue to work closely with the ACMA and the State Government’s Department of Consumer and Business Services.

“They have been nothing but supportive during our recent journey,” he said.

“We hope to be back on the air in some form in the New Year subject to licensing conditions being met and we hope the local community will continue to support us along the way.

“Our thanks to all of our amazing presenters who have brought our community along with them, the Millicent Lions Club who have supported us financially, Austereo, 5GTR Mount Gambier and Frank Wilcox, our service technician.

“My fellow management board members have worked tirelessly behind the scenes to remedy many of these issues and everyone else who has supported us in some form over the last few months, we applaud you and could not have done it without you.

“In the meantime, we plan to continue our programs with our local presenters from our studios in Railway Terrace through the community broadcast app.”

Mr Walshaw said it was the intention of the new 5THE-FM management board to re-apply to ACMA for a broadcasting licence.

“Subject to meeting various criteria, it will be a limited licence for 12 months in the first instance,” he said.