CEO CALLS IT A DAY AFTER 40 YEARS’ SERVICE TO NSW COMMUNITIES
Dubbo Regional Council (DRC) CEO Michael McMahon will round off a 47 year working career -- 40 in local government -- on a ‘high’ when he officially retires on 1 April, 2021. Mr McMahon, who started his local government public service career in Sydney after working in logistics, has been with DRC for over three years, initially as acting CEO before being appointed CEO in 2018.
Mr McMahon started working in local government in 1980 with Drummoyne Council. In a career that would soon progress through various roles into senior executive positions, Mr McMahon would go on to work for North Sydney Council, Waverley Council where he became General Manager (last Town Clerk), and then GM for Ryde, Canada Bay, Wagga Wagga, Burwood; CEO of Dubbo Regional Council in 2018.
In a career that has overseen billions’ dollars of capital investment across city and regional Councils –aimed specifically at improving the lives and lifestyles of millions of people, and generating hundreds of millions’ dollars in new business and investment back into local government area economies, Mr McMahon says it’s been an honour and a privilege to end a distinguished career on a high by leading similar success for the Dubbo Region.
“I made a deliberate choice to come to this fantastic region and take on the role of CEO to oversee record investment and growth in this part of NSW,” said Mr McMahon. “This region was on the cusp of eye-watering record growth, investment and prosperity before the grip of a relentless drought, global economic downturn and COVID-19 pandemic… I genuinely believe this will all be a ‘bump’ in what will continue to be a great record-breaking journey for this region.”
“Putting the region on track to be in a better strategic position to withstand another ‘worst drought of record’ through massive water security infrastructure investment – thanks to Council, NSW and Australian Government funding, has been a key achievement,” said Mr McMahon. “Reshaping Council’s structure and business model to withstand unplanned financial pressures – through some diligent hard work by staff and the community – is another achievement I’m proud of.”
“Shaping Council’s financial, technological, operational capabilities and workforce to be more resilient and ‘expect the unexpected’ is also another achievement I am pleased to reflect back on.”
“When COVID-19 hit us, and hit us hard, we were in a very fortunate position to pivot what we do and how we do it, while taking the community along with us, “said Mr McMahon. “More importantly, we were able to keep people employed and support local businesses because we were prepared for that ‘rainy day’; and remain financially viable. Not being in that position to react and absorb the burdens of such an impact financially and operationally really would have been disastrous.”
Mr McMahon acknowledges that Council is as much a family as it is a business. Changing Council’s culture and operations to be more business orientated has required some considerable work by every single member of staff and Council. That hard work has paid off.
“Some small corners have been critical of the ‘business model’ the new amalgamated Council adopted, but at the end of the day – that’s what it is, a business,” said Mr McMahon. “Council is in the business of delivering services and projects for the community. Doing this costs money. Good business acumen and practices not only generates income – it protects, preserves and better invests the community’s money so those services and projects can be delivered without driving Council, and the community, deep into debt.”
Mr McMahon is most proud of the staff across Wellington and Dubbo and what they have achieved during a sustained period of change and challenge. Never once did he feel staff lost their primary focus – service to the customer and service to the community.
“These are local people providing critical services for local communities,” said Mr McMahon. “Families work in Council. The work we do is aimed at making the lives of individuals, businesses and families better – through new playgrounds, community facilities, new roads, social support services or delivering major events and tourism opportunities.”
“At the end of the day, these Council services and projects can’t be delivered without good people behind them. I am most proud of the good people Council has working for them.”
Mr McMahon, a proud father and grandfather, and his wife Narelle will spend their time shared between the Central West and Sydney during retirement. A newfound ‘downtime’ tempered by all-important grandfather duties and the work required to keep a rural property in order.
“I would like to thank the Mayor, Councillors, Council staff, and the community, for their support,” said Mr McMahon. “It genuinely has been a great honour and privilege to spend my adult life working in local government and working for fantastic communities like the Dubbo Region. I wish everyone the very best of success and good health for their future.”
Council will appoint an interim CEO, effective 1 April 2021.
The Acting CEO will oversee the day-to-day operations of Council up to, through and post the NSW Local Government elections in September this year. The new Council will then go through the process of appointing a new CEO sometime after the 2021 elections.
Last Edited: 17 Jul 2023