Unanimous vote for our new GM
TWEED Shire Council has announced its new general manager after a unanimous decision in a confidential meeting on Monday.
David Keenan will take the reins on April 30, following the retirement of the current general manager Mike Rayner on April 27.
Mr Keenan, 46, is the current CEO of Mitchell Shire Council, on the northern outskirts of Melbourne.
He has multiple masters degrees in business admini- stration and a postgraduate diploma in planning and the environment and has also served on the Hume Shire Council as a city sustainable development director.
"I am looking forward to the challenge of achieving sustainable development in the Tweed shire," Mr Keenan said.
"Ensuring that there are strong economic development opportunities that can be accommodated in a manner that do not impact the local environment and are supported by an engaged community, is an outcome I will be seeking to achieve."
Adding to his list of achievements, Mr Keenan is the former inaugural chair of Economic Development Australia, a board member of Environs Australia and is involved with a number of not-for-profit organisations.
Tweed Mayor Barry Long- land has welcomed the appointment.
"David brings a range of skills and a varied background to this important role and I'm confident his skills will trans- late well to a NSW setting," Cr Longland said.
"He is coming to us from a shire with similar growth pressures, with a significant agricultural sector and this background is particularly relevant to the challenges he will face in Tweed.
"He has a strong interest in this part of the world and has holidayed here many times and has always found this area very attractive."
Mr Keenan is married to Jane, a family lawyer, and the couple have two children, Charlotte, 14 and Harry, 11.
