Lismore Mayor Steve Krieg has announced today that the current General Manager (GM) of Lismore City Council has withdrawn his application to become the permanent GM.
‘As has been reported by the media, John Walker has withdrawn his application to stay on as the General Manager of Lismore City Council past his current contract date,’ stated Mr Kreig.
Lismore Councillor and former Mayor Vanessa Ekins told The Echo, ‘I am very disappointed that during the recruitment process the current interim GM would announce the withdrawal of his application to the media without first telling councillors. We found out about it on social media.
‘The interim GM is blaming councillors. The councillors have been working really well together on bringing together a strategy for Lismore for the next 20 years. Our meetings are conducted with civility and we are getting through the business of the council which is to maintain the road network, manage waste etc. We are also working on our growth management strategy and affordable housing strategy.
‘As the mayor and the new councillors settle into the formal meeting process and the business of council they are engaged and are a body we are continuing to work together.’
Krieg’s praise
However, Councillor Krieg has praised te work of Mr Walker saying, ‘The term of his contract has literally been like no other, and I am proud to have had the opportunity to stand beside Mr Walker during what has undoubtedly been the most difficult period in our city’s history.
‘He deserves a great deal of credit for Lismore being in such a good position so soon after the flood, at the same time nurturing and directing staff, and restructuring the organisation to make it a durable and sustainable organisation into the future.
‘I look forward to the future of Lismore that John has had an integral part in laying the foundation for. His commitment to the staff of Lismore City Council and the residents of our LGA is a legacy. I am personally committed to continuing to work to rebuild our city.’
GM avoided previous sacking
The termination of General Manager Michael Donnelly and Mr Walker’s appointment as GM of Lismore in February this year was controversial from the start given criticisms of his past performance in the same role with the Richmond Valley Council and a council in Western Australia.
In June this year, Mr Walker avoided being sacked after Greens Councillor Adam Guise brought a motion for his dismissal. The vote to sack Mr Walker was defeated 8–3 by the time Cr Krieg’s majority team of six voted against, with only Crs Guise, fellow Greens Cr Vanessa Ekins, and Independent Cr Big Rob in favour.
‘The current recruitment process is continuing and I am confident of finding a suitable replacement,’ said Mr Krieg.
Locals are over the GM’s Social Media decisions. It’s all about ‘get it while you can.’
It’s outrageous for a professional man to do things the way he does. I’m so unhappy that our council wasted all that money getting rid of Michael Donnelly. I’m sure he would have been at least as helpful as John Walker initially and much better long term.
And maybe he wouldn’t have driven into floodwater requiring rescue either! Embarrassing lol
I for one don’t blame him for leaving, it’s a clown show, full of personal agendas, personal conflicts and tantrums, on full display every meeting.
Bring in administrators because the majority of these people can’t agree on anything, and we’re paying for it in every way possible.
Ahh ! come on , get real, his history has caught up with him.
This guy was catastrophe in the last two councils he has destroyed , he left Kalgoorlie with a $15 million debt, and has found that the job here requires actions way above his capabilities. Just because he was a ‘captains choice’ doesn’t endower him with the talent to cope with the onerous resonsibility of reconstructing this disaster area.
We need a CEO with foresight, ability and guts, come back Christopher Wren.
Cheers, G”)
I’m not saying how great he is or isn’t, I’m saying I don’t blame him for leaving.
No GM can sort this mess out, the council is dysfunctional.
Congrats Greens, one other Councilor and some local media- your on-going campaign against Mr Walker has eventually succeeded !
But there can be little doubt why he left, of course.
A bitterly divided council after the vaunted ’20 Green Years’ that most people had more than enough of and so voted the present team in.
Way before the start of his appointment it was always going to be a ‘Green war of attrition”.
I do hope Councilors can be more co-operative and less vociferous over the next GM appointment – for all our flood-battered LCC ratepayer’s sakes.
Hmmm 11 councillors, 2 are Greens & 1 Labor, dominated by 7 Nats he couldn’t work with?
Yet somehow him not being up to the job and having a very poor track record is the “Greens, and one other Councilor” [sic] fault?
More baseless bizarre nonsense Rob L !
Wow, that’s crazy that councillors found out via social media! And that he has the gall to blame councillors! I call that weakness.
well that’s good news for Lismore, maybe the “mayor” will use an open and transparent method of recruitment this time around?
The previous GM’s ‘move owns’ are in line with 2 other States we are told. The people can’t be wrong all the time.
What council staff do we have left after his short period here? Also could the Echo please give the background and info re the discussion around Adam Guise’s motion to dismiss the GM? I vaguely remember it but it was some months ago.