LOCAL Government identity Trevor Smart will today bid farewell to Grant district ratepayers after nearly six years at the helm of the rural-focused council.
Mr Smart – who has been instrumental in guiding the council on a number of major projects – will head to Naracoorte to take up the chief executive role with the township’s council.
The local government leader was appointed Grant District Council’s chief executive officer in 2012 after the resignation of Russell Peate.
Reflecting on his time with the council yesterday, Mr Smart said he would leave the organisation with “mixed” feelings.
While welcoming a new chapter in his career, he said he was saddened to leave staff and connections he had made across the Grant district community.
In particular, he said he would have also liked to see key projects such as The Waterfront at Port MacDonnell and the Mount Gambier Airport upgraded completed.
“You make the decision to move on, but then you are leaving something you have worked for, for nearly six years,” said Mr Smart, who presided over 70 full-time staff.
“You grow attached to your staff. It doesn’t matter how long you have been with an organisation, you always have unfinished business – it would have been good to finish off some projects.”
Listing off his proudest achievements, Mr Smart said the multi-million-dollar marine infrastructure project at Port MacDonnell was a major highlight.
“This was something council pursued for many years and I was lucky enough to be CEO when we got this project over the line,” he said.
He said the river and coastal township master plans were also a great outcome given the input by the community.
“This will give us a blueprint for the development of our towns and coastal areas for many years to come.”
Mr Smart also presided over the upgrades to the Glenburnie Saleyards and in more recent times has been overseeing the much anticipated “Waterfront” infrastructure development at Port MacDonnell.
“I was pleased I could sign off on the construction of The Waterfront project, which will change the township’s appearance, community accessibility and hopefully open up new retail opportunities.”
But the council chief has also seen some major challenges, including the need to upgrade the Mount Gambier Airport, financial problems at the Mount Gambier Saleyards and need to place the council back on a road to financial sustainability.
Council is awaiting the outcome of another attempt at Federal Government funding to get the airport redevelopment off the ground.
“It has been pretty exciting to be involved in all the planning for the airport even though it is still not over the line,” Mr Smart said.
“We have done as much as we can working with both federal, state and local stakeholders to at least have a clear direction of what the airport needs to look like and what it needs to be able to deliver for our region.”
He said the challenge was now getting the project to come to fruition either with federal funding or a local/state government partnership.
Describing the airport blueprint as an “enabling project”, he said the upgrade was needed so the region could grow its passenger numbers and freight opportunities.
Mr Smart said he was also leaving the organisation in a sound financial position.
“When I first came here, council was not in a strong financial position,” he said.
“Over nearly the six years, we have worked diligently on our long-term financial plans and asset management.
“I think we are now in a pretty healthy financial position. We have got good cash reserves and we have now moved into operating surpluses. We are not taking loans out for plant, machinery and road work, which we were.
“I feel like I am leaving the council in a better place than when I found it, but I am leaving knowing there is a good team of staff and elected members to carry on the work.”
Mr Smart initially relocated from Ceduna, where he worked in council management roles for 16 years.
