Council staff swap brings new ideas from across the Tasman

A staff exchange program is netting fresh idea ideas from across the Tasman, with Council welcoming New Zealand local government employee Susan Jones to Noosa.

Ms Jones is human resources and administration manager at Gore District Council on New Zealand’s South Island. She spent the past week sharing ideas with Noosa staff, including Planning and Infrastructure Director Martin Drydale, about different ways of doing business.

Ms Jones spoke with councillors, attended Council events, and visited neighbouring Gympie Regional Council. She’s in the country for two weeks, and says she’s particularly interested in Noosa Council’s community jury initiative.

“There are several similarities between our councils, for example the approach to environmental matters, and we are also a tourist area. Although we can’t offer Noosa’s 28 degree weather,” Ms Jones said.

“It’s also been interesting to see the different approach to organisational matters such as human resources.”

Local Government Managers Australia (Queensland) (LGMAQ) and Society of Local Government Managers New Zealand arranged and funded the exchange for the two councils to swap ideas and share information.

Gore District Council oversees a 1,251 km² area with a population of approximately 12,200. It has 11 councillors and a mayor.

“It’s common in New Zealand for local governments to have more elected councillors for a smaller population, which certainly makes for some interesting debate,” Ms Jones said.

Mr Drydale will visit Gore District Council in November.

“Susan and I have talked a lot about the councils’ different ways of doing things and it has given me a better understanding of what I can expect to see when I’m over there,” he said.

September 9  2015