At the 2008 Local Government Managers Australia National Congress at the Gold Coast,
Local Government FOCUS invited delegates to nominate individuals or teams from their council who are improving their council’s operations or enhancing service delivery within their community.
In this edition, we showcase the next two of our high achievers for 2008.
Justin Nyholm, Manager Works, Wollondilly Shire Council, NSW
Located on the southern outskirts of Sydney, Wollondilly covers an area of just over 2,500 square kilometres
and has a population of some 40,000 people.
General Manager, Les McMahon, said Council’s Manager Works, Justin Nyholm, is highly motivated, looks outside the square and is very efficient.
“He is a non traditional thinker for Local Government, which I really appreciate,” Les McMahon said. “His staff work to 110 per cent, and he is a great person to have as a workmate.”
Justin Nyholm said the key to managing staff is to provide direction and support.
“It is important that your staff know what needs to be done, how it contributes to the operations and who is responsible,” he said. “They must also understand that tasks must be completed in a timely manner. After that, ensure they have the appropriate tools, then get out of their way and let them do it, while providing support along the way.”
Justin has worked in Local Government for five years, initially running a business unit for Botany Bay Council contracting to Sydney Airport and other major clients in Sydney. He was instrumental in establishing what is believed to be the first airside grounds maintenance services contract at a major international airport in Australia.
“The contract involved spills response, grass cutting in and around the airfield, sweeping aprons, taxiways and runways and even repainting the runway centrelines each week, while the runway was still deemed active,” Justin Nyholm said. “All of these works were traditionally delivered internally. Establishing the contract for Botany Bay was a first for Local Government. We had Council staff working in a very difficult and regulated environment 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”
In his current position as Manager Works, Justin is responsible for Wollondilly’s road reconstruction programs, as well as road maintenance and plant.
“We live in a large rural Shire, and as such we rely on our road network to link the Shire, our community and its services,” he said. “Because our base rate level is so low and our geographic area is large, our current road network funding falls almost
$6 million short each year. This means that Council is simply unable to maintain the roads to the level that our residents expect.
“They have deteriorated to such a condition that we needed a major Road Program to bring them back to a satisfactory condition.”
To do the work that the Shire’s roads badly need, Council has received approval from the New South Wales Government for a Special Rate Increase (Road Ahead) of approximately 10 per cent per annum from 2005/06 to 2009/10. Approximately seven per cent of this goes directly into roads, once the rate pegging amount has been taken out.
Justin Nyholm said the funding shortfall is also being amplified due to volatile fuel and bitumen prices.
“Like all Councils, we use a lot of oil based products in our daily works and the costs are increasing rapidly – much quicker than CPI,” he said. “There is never enough money to do everything Council and our communities want, but at the same time, the challenge of achieving the best outcome for the community can be an enjoyable challenge.”
Justin said he enjoys developing solutions that use the community, internal resources, contractors and technology to get the best result.
“For example, in replacing one of our timber bridges this year, we looked around for the most cost effective, yet quality solution and eventually found a baileys style bridge that we could import from Mabey Johnston in the UK,” he said. “The baileys style bridge is a prefabricated model that can be assembled with minimal aid from heavy equipment, yet is durable and strong enough to carry trucks.
“It is satisfying to do something different and achieve a result that meets the needs of the community and Council and fits within our budget.”
Justin said he also enjoys working with other levels of government and observing the way they operate.
“Wollondilly works with the State Government at a number of different levels, and we are able to get a lot done on the ground,” he said. “For example, we have a great relationship with the NSW RTA and I enjoy working with them to get things done.”
Coming from a commercial background where success is usually measured by dollars, Justin said he never imagined he would find such satisfaction in delivering outcomes for the community.
“It is much more rewarding than I could have anticipated and it provides motivation for future projects,” he said.
The Opportunists, City of Belmont, WA
Located on the cusp of Perth’s CBD, the City of Belmont is renowned for its work life balance initiatives, and its ongoing support for staff.
It is this culture that makes staff very loyal, productive, outgoing and happy in their jobs.
In line with fostering a good working environment, Council has a large social club that puts on a Christmas show each year.
Council’s Manager Property and Economic Development, Jay Hardison, said that Council often struggled to find entertainment for the show.
“I was talking casually to a colleague of mine who shares a common interest in playing the guitar,” he said. “We were on the topic of the Christmas party, and we thought, ‘wouldn’t it be great to start our own band to play at the function?’
“We sent an email out to everyone in the organisation asking if they were interested in joining a band and we got a great response. We ended up with a great mix of people representing a diverse cross section of the organisation in terms of role, age, gender and background.
“We have two drummers, two bass players, a didgeridoo player, guitars, keyboards, harmonica and brass players, as well as a bunch of vocalists. They come from all areas of Council, including finance, works, engineering, youth services, human resources and marketing.
“We are always open to new members, and in fact picked up our sax player just before the Boardroom Blitz event.”
Named the Opportunists, after the city slogan ‘The City of Opportunity’, the band comprises 13 members – 12 on stage and one roady. It now has 19 cover songs and has performed at a number of functions, including Council’s 2007 Christmas function and 2008 midyear function, a Festival in the Park event, and the Princess Margaret Hospital fundraiser – Boardroom Blitz.
Boardroom Blitz involves organisations sponsoring their bands to play in a fundraiser concert. The Opportunists were one of eight bands involved in the competition, along with private sector organisations. It took out the ‘Best Rock Style’ category.
Council provides space for the band to practise and is also quick to promote it for use at functions where possible.
Jay Hardison said the band has built up teamwork across the organisation.
“In the beginning, I barely knew some of the people involved in the band,” he said. “Many of them worked in other parts of the organisation, so I didn’t know much about them other than their name.
“The band has built incredible bonds and it has been great to watch people grow and become more confident. Aside from myself, no one had ever performed in front of an audience before, so it was great to see them getting out there and having a really good time.
“One woman came to the band having never sung in public, but believed she had a good voice and could do it.
“She started off a little bashful in the beginning, but has developed into a rock goddess – she swings her hair around and dances around the stage – it’s fantastic!”
Jay Hardison believes all councils should look inside their organisation for talents.
“We never knew there was musical talent at Belmont until we asked,” he said. “The same could happen for getting a footy or cricket side together, and all have the same effect of bringing staff together on a social level and forming lasting bonds across the organisation. It is truly interesting to uncover hidden potential and find out what other people are interested in and good at.”
Belmont Councillor, Bev Brennan, nominated the band to appear in FOCUS. She said for a group that work for Local Government and have no experience bar one member, the band is truly fantastic.
“I hope to see them at more Council and outside functions in the future,” she said. “They have performed at a local festival in the park, and the crowd they bought with them was tremendous.
“Council staff have really got behind them and support them at all their gigs.”
To get a glimpse of the band in action, visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=1r2IzUMMMhk
