Gary Gaffney finishes as CEO

Gary Gaffney finishes his four-year tenure as East Gippsland Shire Council chief executive officer today (November 14), proud to be leaving the organisation “in a better place than when I arrived”.

Mr Gaffney, who set out on a program of organisational change and creating a culture of action with a customer service focus, said Council had been able to continually attract funding for and deliver major capital works projects for the betterment of the community. However, it’s the subtle changes during his tenure – “the journey” – that’s been the most rewarding.

“The last four years have been a really interesting journey of getting organisational change happening. We have worked hard on having a customer service focus, having the right systems in place and taking the problems out of the organisation,” Mr Gaffney said.

“We had lot of problems in process, not in people. It was about creating a culture of action.”

Dovetailing into that culture has been the training and development of staff.

“Training and development has been a huge thing; we’ve seen coordinators become managers. We now have a cadre of staff interested in their future.

“I have been really proud of how our staff taken on change and accepted change … that’s really positive.

“It does annoy me that publicly our staff are not recognised for what they actually deliver – the 100 services to 40 localities. The public can often forget what we deliver and the difficult things we take on.”

Getting technology savvy was an early focus; the clock was ticking on an IT (information technology) system that had passed its used-by date.

“When I first got here frontline staff were using flip phones. Rangers used to drive out and complete a job, drive back get another job, and then go back out again. It was inefficient.

“IT improvements were a huge game changer for the staff. The most negative aspect with staff when I arrived was IT and now it’s one of the most positive aspects – that’s a great turnaround.”

The development of the derelict former police complex in Pyke Street (Bairnsdale) into a modern office (and engine room for IT), Mr Gaffney said “reinvigorated that part of town”.

Mr Gaffney said he was not all the way through his planned transformation, but after four years there have been some significant improvements.

“When I was appointed councillors wanted a CEO more present and open to the community and a continued capital works program,” he said.

“I look around the municipality there are continual capital works happening, but sometimes it’s the little things.

“The reintroduction of the dust suppression program, getting footpaths to join up to improve access - a lot of subtle changes; there hasn’t been the big bang, it’s been the journey. That’s what I’ve enjoyed.

“We have continually knocked over major projects across the municipality working within the rate cap and have been able to attract funding for major projects such as the Bairnsdale Aquatic and Recreation Centre redevelopment, Omeo MTB track, and we’ve done a lot of work in Lakes Entrance. The planning work in Lakes Entrance has been the catalyst for a lot of the spend we are starting to see with VicRoads.

“We have established good cross-border relationships. I’m seeing something happening everywhere.

“A number of our business units are at a completely different level of operation than from when I arrived.

“Planning was 64 per cent and it’s now 82 per cent – that’s a great turnaround. Our mid-term application turnaround is one of the best in the state. We are doing a lot of really, really positive things.

“Parks and gardens – the smallest town or largest town – they are a credit. The improvement in road maintenance has been seen by our customers.

“All these great facilities and services are what people expect,” he said.

And as for East Gippsland, Mr Gaffney believes the municipality is in much better shape than some other councils.

“If you look at latest figures in Know Your Council, it’s in good shape. We are in a good financial position, working within the rate cap,” he said.

Incoming CEO Anthony Basford commences with East Gippsland Shire Council on November 19.