G'day, it's Digby Rayward, the Mayor of Dungog, happy to bring you this month's Council Happenings, which is also the first of the year!
And as it is the first one, I thought I should reflect on some significant work done by Council last year, which will hopefully show dividends in this coming year. Firstly, I'd like to congratulate all of the Councillors. They have contributed a huge amount of their time and effort, as we've worked through this Housing and Infrastructure Master Plan, it's been a massive job! They've also had significant involvement with community members, and we've been trying to build these important relationships. Everywhere I go, people talk to me telling me that's a positive, and they're seeing more engagement. So well done Councillors.
They've certainly been a collaborative team, and we know that a team is a group of individuals working together to achieve a common goal. When you look at the scoreboard, the team's got to be there, not just one person, it's the whole team. And the common goal, of course, is to see Council operate in a more contemporary and accountable way, with clear expectations, strong governance and a focus on results. This shift recognises that a well-run organisation is better placed to serve the needs of the Dungog Shire community. You know, one of the things that used to annoy me was that we were dealing with a lot of legacy issues, and we weren't focused on long-term outcomes; things were being left behind. But that's not the case now; this new Council and the team are really showing some progress.
So, part of this transformation is the Council has been reviewing its workforce structure to ensure it aligns with current and future priorities. This is absolutely important. Any business model must reflect this. I believe I mentioned it last time I was with you, the new team structure is now being implemented within the Infrastructure and Assets team, designed to better support project delivery, asset management, and long-term planning.
In parallel, the Council has also implemented a new IT system that enables more efficient communication, improved data management, and a community-focused organisation. That's the direction we're aiming for with Dungog Shire. We'll always be small, but we need to be smart and focused on outcomes. So, we're heading in that direction; the building blocks are already in place. I certainly commend the General Manager, Gareth, and his Executive Leadership Team—Damien, Stacie, and Tom, our new Director of Planning, who has integrated very well into the team. He has stepped into a key role at a crucial time, and it's great to see him actively involved. It's a strong team that works cohesively rather than in silos, which gives me confidence that this approach will succeed. I'm looking forward to the next 12 months with high hopes for positive results across many areas.
Regarding other developments, we have been lobbying our state and federal representatives about all things Dungog. We've been active at every opportunity and believe we are being heard, though we still need to gain more ground—our efforts are definitely not for lack of trying. We've also increased our discussions with Hunter Water through regular meetings, and those are progressing well. They've recently appointed a new CEO; we're waiting for a permanent replacement, but our discussions with them remain very positive. We aim to strengthen our partnership arrangements, especially concerning the social license needs of Dungog, which have been largely overlooked in the past. Fortunately, they are beginning to understand the direction we are heading.
We've also started ongoing meetings with the Crown Land representatives. We had a good first meeting with three of their members, and this will be an ongoing process that will benefit both parties and provide us with clearer direction.
You might have also noticed that we've just called for Expressions of Interest for four blocks of land we have in Dungog. We're seeking open development and welcome contributions from anyone who can offer ideas. We're open to discussing anything, and I can tell you we've already received some positive input, even though the process hasn't closed yet. So, what's the future hold? That's very promising. Look, there's so much happening. I could go on for quite some time and bore you, but I won't, so I'll leave it there for now. Things are progressing well.
Next month, I'll be away for a couple of weeks. We're also planning to hold a tourism roundtable to discuss our direction with tourism. I'm looking forward to this being a great year! While I'm away, Councillor Liam Ley, the Deputy Mayor, will be taking my seat, so please be kind, and until next time, I'll catch up with you then.
Cheers.
