Picture: SANDRA MORELLO
THE Limestone Coast local government landscape will usher in a new era with the arrival of a senior executive into the region.
Tony Wright – formerly chief executive officer of VicWater – will return to his roots in the South East and take up the role of the Limestone Coast Local Government Association (LCLGA) executive officer.
Armed with decades of experience and a desire to enhance regional communities, Mr Wright – who grew up in Kingston – takes over the prominent role from Dominic Testoni.
Mr Wright will work closely with the region’s seven councils to improve the “liveability” of regional residents and progress the organisation’s goals.
The Border Watch sat down with Mr Wright earlier this week ahead of his official start date in early June.
“I am originally from Kingston and I went to Adelaide on a sporting scholarship as a kid, I have worked with a ‘sparky’, worked overseas and switched over to the water industry,” Mr Wright said.
“I have been a senior executive with the water industry for 25 years. But for the past seven years, I have been chief executive of VicWater.”
“This involved working with the state’s 19 water corporations, which was a role similar to my new role with the LCLGA.
“I have worked closely with local government, in particular with infrastructure. I was the project director of the Goldfields pipeline during the millennium drought.”
Mr Wright described this as a “high pressure” project given it had a construction price-tag of $180m.
“It was a pipeline between Ballarat and Bendigo. Ballarat only had three months of water supply when we turned on the pipeline.
“I have always worked in community building and political environments and when I saw this opportunity come up, I thought it was a great opportunity to come back to the area where I grew up and make a positive contribution to the community.”
Conceding his new role would be a “learning experience”, Mr Wright said the role local government played in the community and the social dynamic would make the position challenging and rewarding.
“When you think about the different tiers of government, local government is the closest tier to its community,” Mr Wright said.
“I have always searched for roles where you can make a big impact on liveability, sustainability and prosperity in local communities.”
Explaining he had kept a connection with the Limestone Coast through family, Mr Wright revealed he enjoyed living in regional areas.
“Liveability means different things to different generations,” he said.
This role in particular “ticks all the boxes,” according to the local government’s fresh recruit.
“There is a lot in there that I can learn and there is a lot I can contribute. I can see the LCLGA already makes a big contribution to its community.”
While he is yet to settle into his role, he foreshadowed the need to attract and retain young people in the region.
“We often have a drain of workers and talent from local communities and the question is how you get them back and involved in the community.”
He said the continual need for funding to upgrade regional infrastructure was also a major challenge.
“This involves how do you have efficient roads and efficient services.”
LCLGA president Erika Vickery said the organisation was “very happy to have Mr Wright on board”.
“We are looking forward to progressing the wonderful projects we have been doing over the years and looking for new opportunities given the experience Tony brings,” the Naracoorte mayor said.
Ms Vickery said she was particularly impressed with Mr Wright’s focus on liveability within communities.
“This is extremely important for us as it really fits in well with our strategic and regional growth plans,” she said.
