Byron Shire Council general manager, Ken Gainger, has been reappointed for another four years in the top council job.
Confirmed unanimously by Councillors, the appointment will see Mr Gainger support the next term of the council through until 2020.
Mayor Simon Richardson welcomed the announcement and said Mr Gainger’s strong leadership performance will give much needed continuity and stability to the Council’s operations.
‘Ken’s extensive local government background and can-do attitude has allowed a fresh new operational culture to be built,’ Cr Richardson said.
‘As a result, the organisation structure has been thoroughly reviewed to ensure that it better reflects the communities’ needs and work programs.
‘Financially we are now in a good position in the short term and have a progressive plan that aims to ensure our Council is sustainable through the next decade.
‘And our roads and ageing infrastructure are improving as a direct result of Ken’s commitment to allocating funding from efficiency and procurement savings, reviewing underperforming assets and sourcing new revenue streams so we can put it towards renewing our assets.”
Mayor Richardson said he was confident that Mr Gainger was firmly focused on delivering Byron Shire’s vision of working for a better future.
‘Open and transparent, council looks forward to having Ken help lead us towards a sustainable future that balances our people, the environment and economic diversity,’ Mayor Richardson said.
I read the Plan. Marvell Street is apparently an “edible street” where they grow edible plants on the side of the street. In Canberra our bicycle user group is helping plan “Active Streets” – where you can walk the dog, or cycle or ride your skateboard with slow local car traffic. Perhaps we need to make an intersecting street. maybe Middleton Street, with an edible one like Marvell – so after you finish all the activity you snack on a an edible plant. I did wonder if the edible plants would include pigfaces. They grew all over the sandhills near the rec’ – they were really the only bush tucker we embraced when I was a kid. I did wonder about the proposed development of the sandhills. It is fine in itself but I wondered if any further development of that delicate area was wise. I will leave that though to the current Byron Shire residents to decide.