By his own admission, AlburyCity General Manager, Mark Henderson, works with a talented and dedicated team of over 400 staff. He has always worked in Local Government, where belief in the power to change things for the better is a key motivator.
“A major part of the role here is to bring energy and talent together, to be able to see what’s ahead and understand where people are coming from,” Mark Henderson said.
He joined the Council at a time when everyone recognised the need to develop a clear vision of where to take the potential and energy apparent in the Council and communities of Albury.
“Its about synergy and working to harness and build on the energy and ideas at our disposal,” he said.
His clarity of vision is perhaps best evidenced in the latest annual Community Satisfaction survey. The survey confirms that the City is achieving high levels of satisfaction with the diverse range of services provided, and that the community regards the Council’s contribution to the City’s lifestyle as one if its major achievements.
“Community satisfaction with Albury’s lifestyle presently stands at 85 per cent,” Mark Henderson said.
The survey identified elements which the City included in its strategic ‘Ten Year Vision’ – a comprehensive strategic plan detailing a blueprint for the City’s future growth and development.
“The Albury 2010 – Lifestyle on the Murray document which came out of this process identifies fundamentals needed to achieve a better lifestyle,” he said. “It provides a stronger focus on the environment with the Murray River as a central theme.”
When Mark Henderson came to AlburyCity, the Murray River was still quite inaccessible and not seen as a major focus. The River is now central to the work-life, business, recreation and care of the entire community.
“I love rivers and part of my work here has been to refocus our city through its proximity to the Murray,” he said. “The River brings people together and as long as we sustain it, it will sustain us and the sort of lifestyle that we can enjoy here in Albury.”
