The recruitment of Hawkesbury City Council's next General Manager is shaping as one of the most important decisions facing the region, with growing calls for Council to appoint a highly experienced local government leader with strong ties to the Hawkesbury and a deep understanding of regional communities.
The Hawkesbury Business Group Inc (HBG) has welcomed Council's decision to commence recruitment and has urged councillors to focus on experience, financial management and community connection when selecting the successful candidate.
In a recent statement, HBG Chairman Phil Bamford said the Hawkesbury needed a General Manager who would commit to the community for the long term rather than view the position as a stepping stone in a local government career.
The call comes amid wider community discussion about the leadership requirements of a council responsible for one of the largest local government areas on the edge of the Sydney Basin. The Hawkesbury's unique mix of rural villages, agricultural land, urban centres, tourism businesses and flood-prone communities creates challenges not found in many metropolitan councils.
Many residents believe the next General Manager should bring significant executive-level experience and ideally have a demonstrated understanding of regional and rural communities.
"The Hawkesbury Business Group has specifically argued that the position is not suitable for a first-time General Manager and should be filled by someone with extensive senior local government experience who can immediately navigate complex financial, governance and infrastructure challenges." Phil Bamford President HBG
Another issue generating discussion is whether the successful candidate should live in the Hawkesbury. The HBG has called for residency in, or relocation to, the Hawkesbury to be included as an expectation of the role, arguing that leaders who live locally are more visible, accountable and invested in the community's future.
The recruitment process also raises questions about remuneration. While ratepayers are understandably concerned about executive salaries at a time when Council is pursuing significant rate increases, others argue that attracting a highly capable and experienced General Manager requires a competitive package.
As one long-standing community observer noted, "If you pay peanuts, you get a monkey. But that's still better than paying bananas and getting a gorilla."
The colourful analogy reflects a serious concern. The Hawkesbury cannot afford either an underqualified appointment or an expensive appointment that fails to deliver results. What residents appear to be seeking is value: a proven leader capable of restoring confidence, managing public funds responsibly, delivering major projects and understanding the realities of life in a regional community that sits at Sydney's doorstep while facing challenges very different from those of metropolitan councils.
The message emerging from across the community is clear. The next General Manager must not simply manage the organisation. They must understand the Hawkesbury, choose the Hawkesbury and help lead it through one of the most important periods in its history.
