Local government veteran Carolyn Upston, who most recently worked in the planning department at Moree Plains Shire Council, will take over the shire’s top job on July 4.

Ms Upston was one of 15 applicants for the job and was selected by an interview panel, which included MSC mayor Phillip Wells and RAMROC CEO Ray Stubbs.

Cr Wells welcomed Ms Upton’s appointment, saying her tenure would mark “a new era” in the shire’s history.

“We’re looking forward to her starting and her challenges will be sustaining growth in the shire and helping fight for us to retain our water,” Cr Wells said.

“She’s already been briefed about the major issues and I’m confident it will only take her a short time to be brought up to speed.

“We had a quality field of candidates but just thought Ms Upton had been around local government for a long time and would be a good fit for the job.”

At Thursday’s council meeting, councillors rubber-stamped a proposal to use $189,000 of council funds to purchase a home for the new general manager to reside in.

The four-bedroom transportable home will be moved to a council-owned block in the Barwidgee subsivision.

Ms Upton’s appointment comes at a time when Griffith

City Council is about to embark on a recruitment drive for a new general manager following the resignation of Peter Brooks.

– The Area News