Local Government NSW President, Darriea Turley AM, has been forced to step down from the organisation’s top job following a decision by the Council she represents to end its membership of LGNSW.
At its November meeting, Broken Hill Council resolved to resign from LGNSW, leaving Cr Turley no longer eligible to retain her position with LGNSW beyond today.
Cr Turley had previously been democratically elected by members as President in December 2021 and again in November 2023.
In accordance with the Rules for LGNSW, the remaining 11 months of her term will now be served by the current Vice President (Rural/Regional), Mayor Phyllis Miller from Forbes Shire Council.
Mayor Miller will serve until the next scheduled general election due to take place at the LGNSW Annual Conference in November 2025.
In writing to members to notify them of her sudden departure, Cr Turley expressed disappointment but emphasised her belief that the organisation will remain in a position of strength under the new leadership of Mayor Miller.
“I have been honoured to serve as a Director at LGNSW since the combined organisation was created in 2013. Over the last decade, I have seen the organisation grow from strength to strength,” said Cr Turley.
“When I was elected President in 2021 we were still in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and our communities were reeling from the effects of unprecedented natural disasters. In taking on the office of President, I identified community resilience and the local government role in recovery as key priorities. I committed our organisation to supporting councils in their incredible work in helping to drive a locally led recovery from the impacts of drought, bushfires, floods and the pandemic.”
Cr Turley also took the opportunity to acknowledge the three different local government State Ministers she had worked with under the Perrottet and Minns Governments and thanked them all for their “collaborative efforts and their willingness to listen to our united voice.”
She also expressed her gratitude towards her fellow Board members, the two Chief Executives she had worked with – Scott Phillips and David Reynolds – as well as all the staff at LGNSW who she described as “incredible” and who played “such an important role in keeping local government strong and robust and ensuring LGNSW can deliver so much value for LGNSW members.”
Cr Turley will remain as an elected member of Broken Hill City Council, with next year marking an important milestone for the former healthcare worker:
“Next year will mark 30 years since I was first elected to Broken Hill City Council back in 1995. I love serving my community and I have thoroughly enjoyed my time on the LGNSW Board.”
“Local Government is the most important sphere of government – we not only represent our community but we work with them to make our neighbourhoods more liveable, to provide essential services, to facilitate a sense of connectedness and to deliver vital infrastructure and facilities.
“I look forward to watching LGNSW to continue to grow from strength to strength. Best wishes to Phyllis and the team as I now hand over the reins,” she said.
In accordance with the Rules of LGNSW, the vacancy for VP (Rural/Regional) was determined by the Board on Monday 23 December and Mayor of Mid-Coast Council, Claire Pontin was elected unopposed.
That subsequent casual vacancy in the role of Director will now be filled via a countback process from the election of Directors held in November 2023.
