Pictured: Mayor of The Hills Shire, Dr Michelle Byrne and Hills Councillors congratulating General Manager Mr Michael Edgar.
MAYORAL MINUTE NO. 4/2026 - ACKNOWLEDGING MICHAEL EDGAR'S 40 YEARS IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT (24 FEBRUARY 2026)
Councillors, I'd like to acknowledge a significant milestone for our General Manager Mr Michael Edgar, who today celebrates 40 years in local government. This Mayoral Minute, which will come as a surprise to Michael as we kept it a secret from him, is to acknowledge his local government career so far. A career that has taken him to the heights of local government, as predicted by many of his colleagues and superiors when he started as a trainee.
In 1985, Michael was finishing Year 12 at Colo High School. A family friend was a trainee in Building Surveying at Blacktown City Council and suggested he investigate it as a career option.
This must have struck a chord with Michael because on 24 February 1986, he started as a Trainee Environmental Health Surveyor at Blacktown City Council. At the same time, Michael also studied a Bachelor of Applied Science (Environmental Health) at the University of Western Sydney. The traineeship was described as intense, but even back then, Michael was held in high regard. He was described as an 'old head on a young body' and was known for his strong character and self-belief. Once he completed his traineeship, Michael was appointed a Graduate Health and Building Surveyor, a position he held for the next nine years.
From there, Michael moved to Blue Mountains City Council as an Environmental Health and Building Surveyor. Blue Mountains City Council gave Michael his first leadership experience. He was promoted to Senior and then Principal Surveyor, and later to Branch Manager of Environmental Health and Regulatory Compliance. In this position, he was responsible for 18 staff and managed environmental and public health standards, public place enforcement and unauthorised land use, development and building.
In 2004, he was promoted to the Acting Group Manager of Environmental and Customer Services. In this role, he managed 83 staff, and one of his key projects was implementing the Draft LEP 2002 in Land Use Management.
In 2005, Michael began his time at The Hills Shire Council as Group Manager of Environment and Planning. Some of the big-picture tasks Michael had in this role included planning for Rouse Hill Regional Centre, working with the North-West Growth Centres Commission to deliver the North Kellyville precinct, and preparing the Shire-wide Development Control Plan and the Carlingford Precinct Plan.
In 2008, he moved to the Group Manager of Strategic Planning role, a position he held for nine years. He worked on the planning of the Growth Centres with the NSW Government, implemented the LEP, led the creation of Council's Rural Cluster zoning to allow for suitable housing choice in rural lands and successfully advocated for it with the Department of Planning. He was also involved in the development of Council's first Community Strategic Plan, Hills 2026, and in developing the vision for Hills 2050.
In 2017, Michael was appointed General Manager of The Hills Shire Council. It was also a significant year for me, as I was re-elected for my fourth term as Mayor, and for the first time as the inaugural popularly elected Mayor.
At the time, I was extremely grateful for his guidance as I navigated my return as Mayor, and I still am to this day. Michael is a walking vault of knowledge, and you would be hard-pressed to find anyone who knows the ins and outs of local government as he does. Michael has served through three Local Government elections on this Council and has diligently mentored new Councillors throughout this process.
Michael has been at the helm of this Council during the most transformative period in its history. The Hills Shire Council didn't choose to be one of the fastest growing local government areas in the country. That decision was imposed on us by successive state and federal governments. However, Michael has helped us to be the best in the business when it comes to managing that growth, rolling out a record pipeline of infrastructure all while maintaining strong finances and ensuring The Hills Shire remains one of the most desirable places to raise a family in Australia.
Michael has been instrumental in the fight for family sized apartments in our local government area, convincing the previous NSW Government to force developers to supply more three- and four-bedroom apartments in our Shire. He's also been a driving force in the Fight for a Fairer Hills Future, a fight we haven't won yet, but one we continue to battle through.
Michael is highly respected in the industry and by former colleagues and elected representatives. In the attachments, you'll see citations about Michael from MPs, former Councillors, colleagues and friends from all stages of his career. You'll see words like 'good bloke', exceptional leader', 'strong character' and 'measured judgement' used to describe him. Even those who knew him as a trainee at Blacktown City Council in 1986 knew he stood out and weren't surprised to see him end up as a GM.
Amongst staff, colleagues and comrades - Michael is known for his affable nature, his enthusiasm and for creating a culture that makes people proud to work for The Hills Shire Council every single day. This is reflected in our falling staff turnover rate, which currently sits at 11.4 per cent, well below the NSW local government average of 18 per cent.
Michael, your 40 years in local government can be likened to your beloved Dick Johnson Racing Team – enduring, successful and a little bit old school. Over the past four decades, you have dedicated yourself to serving communities across Greater Sydney. The Hills Shire is incredibly lucky that more than half of your career has been spent here. The strong financial position this Council is in, is a credit to your stewardship of the more than 700 staff you lead. The position of General Manager is not an easy one, but you have steered this ship with genuine care and determination – even when, to use an Edgarism, something is "going down like a fish milkshake".
Michael, on behalf of myself, the Deputy Mayor, Councillors and Council staff, congratulations on 40 years of local government service and thanks for keeping the dream alive.
Dr Michelle Byrne
MAYOR
