Eurobodalla Shire Council General Manager, Warwick Winn, signed off from the role on Friday after just over two years with the organisation.
Councillors accepted Mr Winn’s resignation at last week’s Council meeting, with Mayor, Mathew Hatcher, thanking Mr Winn for his exemplary service to the organisation and the community since joining Council in November 2022.
Councillors endorsed the appointment of Director of Finance and Corporate Services Stephanie Speedy as Acting General Manager until an interim general manager is found. The search for a permanent replacement will also start as soon as possible, the Council said in a statement.
Mr Winn has had a long career in local government including general manager at Penrith, North Sydney and Manningham councils.
“I am so proud of the excellent hard work of our staff group, and the way we have moved forward together to modernise the organisation with such positivity in the face of the Council’s enormous financial challenges,” Mr Winn said in a statement online.
“Right from the start of my tenure in November 2022, I was struck by the willingness of Council staff to pitch in when needed, the pleasure they get from serving their community, and the wonderful teamwork and camaraderie they share.
“Rather than keeping their heads in the sand, they understood the need to start living within our means and the changes and hard decisions that shift would require. Our attempts to minimise the impacts on our community created by previous decision-making, particularly some very large projects like the Bay Pavilions and the Southern Water Storage, have so far been successful, reducing our general fund deficit from $14 million to $8.5 million through careful budgeting and reprioritisation of work programs. The programme has been soundly based on financial discipline and a clear corporate focus on core services.
“One of challenges of being a General Manager in local government is that newly-elected Councils may wish to change course. I acknowledge this fact. The precarious nature of senior management in the sector is an enormous issue going forward. Not only in terms of recruitment but also in retaining and attracting talent, particularly in the regions.
“I wish to thank Mayor Mathew Hatcher, who has been a pleasure to work with. Mat had a very clear vision and wanted to avoid large rate rises for the community. Mathew will undoubtedly continue to focus on our community’s needs, living within our means, and Council’s core business. Hopefully he will be supported by the newly elected Council,” he said.
Mr Winn said he was now looking forward to travelling the world and spending some quality time with his grandchildren.
