Peter Thompson appointed as General Manager

The City of Wagga Wagga has appointed Mr Peter Thompson to the position of General Manager on a five-year contract at an Extraordinary Meeting of Council this morning.

“I am pleased to announce that after an extensive recruitment process, Councillors today have made a decision to appoint Mr Peter Thompson to the position of General Manager,” Mayor of the City of Wagga Wagga Councillor Greg Conkey OAM said.

“My fellow Councillors and I are excited by this appointment and feel that he will bring the level of stability, commitment and strategic thinking that the community is looking for.

“With major projects such as the Bomen Enabling Roads and Main City Levee upgrade currently under way and the city experiencing strong growth, my fellow Councillors and I are confident Mr Thompson will help further establish Wagga Wagga as a thriving regional capital.”

For the past 10 years, Mr Thompson has held the role General Counsel at Tamworth Regional Council and for the past two years has also held the role of Director Planning and Compliance.

Professionally, Mr Thompson is qualified in both science and law and is accredited by the Law Society of New South Wales as a specialist in Local Government and Planning Law, with seven years’ experience in private practice. He has held subsequent employment with the NSW Environment Protection Authority as a Senior Operations Officer, and the Department of Land and Water Conservation.

“My aim as General Manager is to deliver a progressive local government authority with an impeccable level of integrity and public confidence,” Mr Thompson said

“I'm incredibly impressed by Wagga Wagga and its facilities and I'm equally impressed and excited by what it wants to achieve over the coming years. The strategic direction articulated by the council is clear and clever. It will deliver prosperity, quality lifestyles and security to the people of Wagga Wagga and I look forward to being a part of the key organisation responsible for making that happen.”

Mr Thompson’s priority in the short term is to get to know the Council and the community he will serve, while the long-term priority is to ensure the community trusts and respects the work of the council, which he believes will be delivered professionally, efficiently and passionately.

Local Government NSW Management Solutions coordinated an extensive merit-based recruitment process, including nation-wide advertising that resulted in 25 applications for the position by the 21 August closing date.

Following short-listing, a panel consisting of the Mayor Greg Conkey, Deputy Mayor Dallas Tout, Councillor Vanessa Keenan and AlburyCity General Manager Frank Zaknich conducted first-round interviews.

Four candidates were then interviewed by all Councillors present at an Extraordinary Meeting held Tuesday, 26 September where it was resolved for the Mayor and the Deputy Mayor to negotiate with the preferred candidate.

Mr Thompson will take up the role of General Manager in approximately six weeks.

Mr James Bolton will continue as General Manager until Mr Thompson starts.