Cabonne Council’s General Manager Andrew Hopkins has reluctantly resigned from his position to take up a new opportunity.
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Mr Hopkins, who will leave the council on August 12, said the decision was one of the most difficult of his life.
However, the uncertainty created by the NSW Government’s council merger process meant he had to act in the best interests of his family’s future.
“It will be sad day on August 12 when I walk out of this office after four years in the role because I believe Cabonne Council had a very exciting future and I was keen to help shape that future,” Mr Hopkins said.
“It has been a privilege to work with so many talented and dedicated colleagues and I will miss them dearly, along with the many friends I have made throughout the Shire. I will especially miss my close relationships with the Mayor and the Deputy Mayor. We have been though a lot together.”
Mr Hopkins said although he was looking forward to a new challenge, the Government’s proposal to merge Cabonne with Orange City and Blayney Councils was the main reason he decided to explore other opportunities.
“I have a young family and I have to consider their long-term future,” he said.
“Unfortunately, like me, they love living in the Cabonne area and have made many close friends, so moving away will be a real wrench for all of us.”
Mr Hopkins thanked all of the council’s staff and Councillors who had given him great support over the past four years.
Acting Mayor Lachie MacSmith said Mr Hopkins’ resignation was a major loss for the council and for Local Government in this region.
“But I fully understand his decision and I wish he and his family the very best in the future,” Cr MacSmith said.
“Andrew’s management expertise and experience will be very hard to replace.”
Prior to joining Cabonne Council in 2012, Mr Hopkins was employed by AECOM, the world’s largest engineering company, as its Regional Director, Urban Planning/Master Planning, Economics and Governance in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Appointed after an extensive recruitment and selection process that attracted applicants from around Australia and overseas, Mr Hopkins was involved in the management of cities and towns and establishing systems of Local Governance in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia.
Previously he had owned a 35-person engineering, surveying and town planning firm in Brisbane and had worked in Local Government in Queensland and the Queensland Department of Local Government and Planning
