Northern Midlands mayor David Downie has been recognised for his 25-year commitment to local government.
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Councillor Downie was awarded the Local Government Association of Tasmania’s Life Members’ Award for Meritorious Service on Thursday night at the association’s dinner for the 2018 annual conference.
The award was judged by other life members and recognised “exceptional service to Tasmanian local government and significant achievements by an elected member”, according to LGAT.
[Cr Downie] is known as a sincere, hard-working councillor – a quiet achiever looking for results, not personal publicity.
- LGAT life member Sue Smith
Cr Downie has served on the Northern Midlands Council since its inception in 1993 and held the position of deputy mayor from 2007 and 2014. He was elected as mayor in 2014.
“[Cr] Downie is a true example of leadership in local government, and what all should aspire to,” LGAT life member and judge Sue Smith said.
“[Cr Downie] is known as a sincere, hard-working councillor – a quiet achiever looking for results, not personal publicity.
“The nomination described how he has utilised his exceptional consultative leadership and strategic thinking skills to ably lead council, carrying to fruition a diversity of complex projects and overcoming an array of challenges faced by council over the past three years.”
Among the reasons listed for Cr Downie’s victory was his role as TasWater’s chief owners representative.
Cr Downie led protests in opposition to the state government’s planned takeover of the council-owned body in 2017.
The state government abandoned its plans in May, instead agreeing to purchase a 10 per cent stake in the body for $200 million, after the initial takeover bid was rejected by the Legislative Council in November 2017.
“When the government surprised the sector, announcing a planned takeover of TasWater in February 2017, [Cr] Downie … stepped out of his usual quiet manner of leadership,” Ms Smith said. “As spokesperson for councils, [he] led the campaign against this takeover with dignity, engagement, respect and a strategic resistance campaign.
“After a year of debate, where these qualities of strength with dignity and respect were challenged often, [Cr] Downie’s achievement of a win-win-win for councils, the state government and TasWater consumers showed … how to achieve the best outcomes for our constituency.”
Latrobe and Kentish councils’ general manager Gerald Monson and Burnie City general manager Andrew Wardlaw were also awarded life membership, while Clarence City Council alderman Jock Campbell won the Outstanding Service and Commitment to Local Government award.
Mr Monson has worked for 45 years in the local government sector across five councils, including as Northern Midlands Council general manager between 1993 and 2007.
Mr Wardlaw has served as an executive or general manager at the King Island Council, West Coast Council and Burnie City Council in his 25 years in the sector.
Alderman Campbell won his award for “two terms service on the General Management Committee of LGAT, participation on statewide or national committees for at least three years and distinguished service to local government”, according to LGAT.
Stefan Boscia
Stefan came to The Examiner after working as a copywriter at a digital media firm in Melbourne and interning at The Conversation. He is enthusiastic about reporting on business, local government and environmental issues. When he is not chained to his work desk, Stefan enjoys getting brunch, reading Saul Bellow novels and watching Carlton games.
Stefan came to The Examiner after working as a copywriter at a digital media firm in Melbourne and interning at The Conversation. He is enthusiastic about reporting on business, local government and environmental issues. When he is not chained to his work desk, Stefan enjoys getting brunch, reading Saul Bellow novels and watching Carlton games.
