INCREASED government red tape is driving up costs and hampering efficiency of Loddon Shire Council.
That is the assessment of operations director Steve Phillips who steps down from the role next week.
“The level of justification and administration just continues to grow,” said Mr Phillips who has been in the role since 2018 and on council’s staff for 16 years.
“The regulatory requirements have ... significantly increased. This has meant that things take longer and cost more than they once did,”
“It sometimes feels like as we become more efficient, more new requirements are placed on us, eating into any efficiencies that might have been gained.
“In recent years I have witnessed the withdrawal of State Government agency staff from rural areas. This adds more community expectation onto council to pick up the slack.”
Mr Phillips said Loddon Shire would continue to face significant challenges to maintain its 4700km road network.
“It has always been a struggle for council to raise the necessary funds to keep all its infrastructure in good working condition,” he said, “This will remain the biggest issue that council faces - how to maintain, renew and replace infrastructure that services the communities.”
Mr Phillips said the most challenging times he had faced with council were the floods of 2010-2011, October 2022 and the 2023-2024 summer storms.
“It is a credit to the communities of the Loddon Shire in how they help each other and work together to respond to and support subsequent recovery efforts,” he said.
Mr Phillips was last year critical of government red tape that delayed approval of 2022 flood recovery projects and funding.
Last week, he said the way council delivered services had changed in 16 years. “Council has invested more into its townscapes and waste facilities and I can see the difference from when I began here.
“Over that time council has modernised its plant and equipment, whether it be the (road) patching truck or the laser controlled graders to winged large area mowers or how work is issued and monitored.”
Mr Phillips said “the time has come for me to move on from council”. “After 16 years it’s time to let someone step in to continue driving the efficiency of service delivery in the operations area,” he said.
“Council has been a fantastic place to work. Whether it be responding to emergencies, grading roads, repaIring buildings, patching potholes or paying bills every staff members puts in day after day.
“It has been a great 16 years but it’s time to change and I know Loddon Shire will continue to thrive into the future.”
Council has advertised for a new operations director.