Townsville chief executive gives farewell speech to councillors and staff

Townsville’s outgoing CEO says he will miss the interactions with key executive team members as he recalled the challenges he faced in his farewell speech.

Townsville’s Chief Executive Prins Ralston will leave the council after serving four years. His resignation came two days after the new council was sworn in. Picture: Shae Beplate.

Outgoing Townsville City Council’s chief executive Prins Ralston said he would miss the interactions with key executive team members who were the “backbone” in the challenges he faced.

Dr Ralston spoke of such challenges and the milestones his team accomplished since 2020 when speaking at the end of his last ordinary council meeting before his resignation on May 10.

On his fifth day on the job the 1.3m diameter pipe which supplied the Douglas Water Treatment Plant was ruptured, affecting water supply to a city of almost 200,000 residents.

But another challenge was the disposal of 30,000 tonnes of green waste following the impact of TC Kirrily in January.

Dr Ralston said the council’s executives were essential as the represented 1800 staff and more than 300 contractors, and he directly gave mention to the work of chief financial officer Julie Hilder.

“Words can’t express how much I’ll miss our daily interactions, challenging conversations and our camaraderie,” Dr Ralston said in a speech directed to staff.

The investiture of newly elected Townsville City Councillors at the council chambers with Townsville City Council CEO Prins Ralston and Mayor Troy Thompson shaking hands. Picture: Evan Morgan

“You’ve been the backbone that has carried me through the ups and downs I’m so proud to have accomplished together.”

He praised the council’s culture of workplace safety and the numerous awards that it had won, and revealed there would be a national award which would recognise the council’s high standard of reporting within its bureaucracy.

He also said long-serving legal counsel executive Tony Bligh will be retiring from his position after 25 years in his position.

“I can attest to Tony having a fine legal mind and a lawyer of significant standing not only in Queensland but certainly recognised across Australia,” Dr Ralston said.

Mr Bligh has served to the side within the chamber and advised councillors and mayors on how they can make decisions according to local government legislation, such as when councillors determined how it could choose the next chief executive officer.

He began working at the council in June 1999 during which time he served four mayors, 40 councillors, and eight chief executive officers.

Originally published as Townsville chief executive gives farewell speech to councillors and staff