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June 23, 2026

Lismore GM terminated following mayoral election

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Lismore City Council’s M Shelley Oldham. Photo Capgemini.

Lismore City Council’s general manager had her position terminated on Tuesday following the election of the new mayor, Greens’ Councillor Vanessa Ekins.

Controversial General Manager Shelley Oldham’s contract was terminated during a confidential session of Lismore Council’s meeting this week.

The period of Ms Oldham’s tenure had been marred by a range of issues and Mayor Ekins described the decision to terminate the contract as a ‘united decision’.

One councillor abstained from the vote.

According to reports in the Northern Star Ms Oldham said she was asked to leave under the no fault clause provision of the senior executive contract of general managers in NSW, and resigned following the meeting.

There will be a standard payment to Ms Oldham for the termination of her contract that is rumoured to be between $200–300,000 dollars.

Interim GM

Mayor Ekins said that until September’s council elections the Lismore GM will be Michael Donnelly, and she will be ‘checking in with staff, and introducing the interim General Manager’ as part of her new role as mayor.

Mayor Ekins said she was looking forward to settling into her new role. ‘It’s a big responsibility and I will treat it seriously’.


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