In other news:

• Bendigo City Council farewells events manager
• New chief transport safety investigator for NSW
• Scott Morrison announces changes to ministry

Paul Paterson will retire as chair of NSW’s independent pricing regulator in February.

Dr Paterson was appointed an IPART Tribunal member in 2013 before taking up a senior role in the Commonwealth Government.

He returned to IPART as chair in February 2019.

CEO Liz Livingstone says Dr Paterson’s presence as chair ensured that regulatory decisions were well thought out and tested at every angle.

“He is always looking for IPARt to improve the way it works. Our current review of how we regulate water is an example of that,” she said.

Isaac in hunt for new CEO

Isaac Regional Council is recruiting a new CEO after the current chief executive Gary Stevenson advised last year of his intention to step down by mid 2021.

Mayor Anne Baker says Council is reluctant to see Mr Stevenson go but understands his decision to spend more time with his family.

She says a nationwide recruitment process will begin this month.

Mr Stevenson, a local government CEO of 26 years, joined Isaac in 2016 and was previously CEO at City of Perth, Redland City Council, Rockhampton City Council and Corangamite Shire Council.

He was awarded a Public Service Medal in 2008 for leadership in local government, particularly through local government reforms.

Bendigo events manager departs

The City of Bendigo has farewelled the man who helped build Greater Bendigo’s reputation as a leading arts centre in regional Victoria.

David Lloyd joined the City in 2004 and since then has seen the opening of the award winning Ulumbarra Theatre and the relocation of the Arena Theatre Company to Bendigo.

More recently he helped develop the Greater CREATIVE Bendigo strategy.

Mr Lloyd has told the Bendigo Advertiser that he plans to take a break to spend time with family before looking to new opportunities.

Victoria’s EPA chief steps down

Dr Cathy Wilkinson has resigned as CEO of Victoria’s Environment Protection Agency.

During her two years with the EPA Dr Wilkinson had overseen the transition of the agency into a modern regulator, including the establishment of the Waste Crime Prevention Inspectorate.

She has also overseen an increase in resources to tackle waste crime, improved air quality monitoring through EPA’s AirWatch website, established programs to support local communities established dedicated metropolitan offices in Melbourne’s west and north.

Dr Wilkinson will take up an appointment as associate professor with the Sustainable Development Institute at Monash University.

The EPA’s executive director of regulatory standards, assessments and permissioning, Tim Easton, will act as in the role during recruitment for a new CEO.

New chief transport safety investigator

Dr Natalie Pelham has been appointed as new Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investigator for the Office of Transport Safety Investigations.

 The Office of Transport Safety Investigations plays a crucial role investigating safety occurrences involving the State’s bus, ferry and rail transport services, and Dr Pelham played a key role in establishing it.

“I am looking forward to the new challenge and to working with the team to ensure our investigations enable transport safety improvements and support the high standard of safety on our network,” she said.

 Dr Pelham replaces Mick Quinn who has served as the head of OTSI for the past 5 years.

New appointments to Local Government Remuneration Tribunal

Viv May and Kylie Yates have been appointed to the NSW Local Government Remuneration Tribunal, which is responsible for categorizing councils and mayoral offices to determining councillor fees.

Mr May has previously served as general manager at Mosman Council, as well as administrator of the suspended councils of Armidale and Auburn, and the new Cumberland Council.

Ms Yates has held senior roles at Local Government NSW including director of advocacy, as well as senior positions within the NSW public service.

Asuria employment expert to head regional Adelaide jobs taskforce

South Australia’s education, skills and employment department has appointed employment services expert Paul Williams to oversee North Adelaide’s $780,000 post-pandemic local jobs plan.

Mr Williams took up his new role as chair and employment facilitator of the Adelaide North Local Jobs and Skills Taskforce on January 4.

The $62.8 million Local Jobs Plan, available to 25 regions across the country, was announced by the government last September and will run until June 2020.

Mr Williams is one of 25 employment facilitators who are charged with connecting job seekers to local employment opportunities.

He is currently working for employment service provider Asuria, which has implemented several government contracts in the region over the past four years.

He is joined on the taskforce by City of Salisbury manager of economic development and urban policy Greg Ratsch.

Mr Williams says the taskforce has already identified “numerous potential partnerships” and enters 2021 on a strong platform to deliver jobs in the region.

ScoMo announces changes to ministry

Aged care will be brought into Cabinet with health minister Greg Hunt responsible for the government’s response to the aged care royal commission under changes to the ministry announced by Prime Minister Scott Morrison late last year.

Richard Colbeck retains responsibility for aged care services.

Dan Tehan will become the new Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment following the appointment of Simon Birmingham as finance minister in October and

Alan Tudge will become Minister for Education and Youth. 

Paul Fletcher takes on responsibility for urban infrastructure as Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts, while Michael Sukkar will have expanded responsibilities for housing, homelessness, social and community housing.

An updated Ministry list is available here.