Council News Issue No: 173
CITY OF WAGGA WAGGA
FIRST PRINTED SATURDAY 2 DECEMBER 2017
Weekly information from us to you
WAGG A I S M E R RY A N D B R I G HT
Carollers and a special visit by Santa Claus helped mark the start of Wagga Wagga's Christmas celebrations on Thursday evening. Community members gathered around the pine tree in the Victory Memorial Gardens as the new light installation was switched on. Featuring 13,800 golden-coloured lights, the installation will light up the cityscape each evening through the festive period and beyond. Flags and footpath decals have also popped up across the CBD, while the annual Christmas digital projection can be seen from the Wollundry Lagoon side of the Civic Centre each night.
TWINKLE, TWINKLE: Mayor Greg Conkey at the switching on of the lights in the Victory Memorial Gardens.
Wagga's future is GM's focus Progress, growth and transparency are high on new General Manager Peter Thompson’s agenda after starting in the role on 30 November. Mr Thompson joins Wagga Wagga City Council from Tamworth Regional Council where he held the roles of General Counsel and Director Planning and Compliance. While Mr Thompson has been recruited on a five-year contract, he said his focus is on building a vibrant and strong community
well into the future. “I’m hopeful and confident that I can progress the interests of the community through the vehicle of Council in a way that’s going to reap benefits not only in the next five years but for the next generation as well,” he said. “The Councillors during the recruitment process said they are looking for someone that’s qualified and experienced and I tick both those boxes. “The only box I need to tick is the trust of the community and I can’t ask for that - I have to work in the job and earn that trust over a period of time.”
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Mr Thompson hit the ground running, starting his first day on the job just after 6am when he met with Council’s outdoor staff at the Alan Turner Depot on Fernleigh Road. He also met with staff at the Civic Centre and Parks Depot, along with other meetings and briefings before attending the launch of the Civic Theatre’s Season 2018 that evening followed by the switching on of the new light installation in the Victory Memorial Gardens. “I reckon I’m pretty safe in saying I’m the first GM in NSW to actually start at the depot and meet the outdoor staff,” Mr Thompson said. “I’ve had briefings on what’s currently an
issue in Wagga and what things need to be dealt with sooner rather than later. “I’m definitely here to progress the interests of Wagga during this exciting political climate in terms of the funding that’s currently available and want to make sure Wagga gets its fair share.” 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.
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