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Hills Shire Council’s General Manager will not seek contract extension

General Manager of The Hills Shire Council, Dave Walker, will not be seeking an extension of his contract following a distinguished 20-year career at The Hills.

Mr Walker’s Local Government career spans almost 40 years, serving many communities in various parts of Australia, beginning as a Shire Clerk for Torres Shire Council, City Accountant for Mt Isa City Council, Shire Clerk for Boulia Shire Council, Deputy Shire Clerk for Wambo Shire Council, Director of Corporate Services for Darwin City Council, Assistant Chief Executive Officer/Director of Administration and Finance for City of Werribee (now Wyndham City Council), Director of Resources for Toowoomba Regional Council and Director of Corporate Services and ultimately, General Manager of The Hills Shire Council.

“Friday 6 January 2017 marked 20 years since I joined The Hills Shire Council and I both acknowledge and appreciate the support I have had from Councillors and staff, as well as the opportunities I have had,” Mr Walker said.

“During my time as General Manager, I have witnessed significant change and unprecedented growth. Our Council has always stepped up to the challenges of not only providing for our community, but making sure we create a quality of life that is second-to-none for residents, while living within our means,” he said.

“I am particularly proud of the way Councillors and staff worked have hard together over many years to move The Hills Shire Council into a position of being one of the most financially sound and sustainable Councils in New South Wales.

“I have decided not to seek an extension of my contract, with my last day at Council being 13 April 2017.”

Hills Shire Mayor, Councillor Yvonne Keane acknowledged Mr Walker’s achievements and leadership both at The Hills Shire Council and across the sector.

“Dave has set a new benchmark in Local Government and has shown enormous courage where others could and would not,” Mayor Keane said.

“He has delivered, in my opinion, The Hills Shire into the most extraordinary position and given us a superb platform for the future,” she said.

“In many ways, although Dave will be uncomfortable with the acknowledgement, he is irreplaceable. Recruiting a General Manager to follow him will be the most difficult and important decision that Council will be faced with during its term.

“We look forward to seeing where Dave heads to next, and my hope is that wherever that may be, we may still get the opportunity to work alongside him.”

The process of recruiting a new General Manager is expected to begin within the next few weeks.

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