Shane Gray quits as Gympie council CEO

Gympie Regional Council is looking to fill its top bureaucratic job for the second time in two years following the sudden departure of Shane Gray after only 18 months on the job.

Gympie Regional Council will be looking for its second CEO in as many years following the sudden departure of Shane Gray from the top bureaucratic job after only 18 months.

Mr Gray’s resignation was accepted by councillors at a special meeting held Friday.

No reason was given at the meeting for Mr Gray’s choice.

Councillors spent more than five hours discussing the matter and not everyone was on board – Bruce Devereaux, Shane Waldock and Dolly Jensen voted against accepting the resignation.

Ms Jensen said following the vote the councillors were originally “abstaining” but this choice was not allowed under the Local Government Act.

Mr Gray’s exit follows an extended period of internal turmoil at the council which has been plagued by a number of controversies.

Chief among these was the repealing of two temporary planning laws designed to protect the region’s wider biodiversity and the Southside’s koala habitat.

Councillors voted to remove them in December 2020 after being told by senior staff the laws had resulted in “unintended consequences” for landowners trying to clear or developer their properties.

In November 2021 the council admitted information given to councillors at that meeting was incorrect.

Shane Gray joined Mayor Glen Hartwig (left) four months after the March 2020 elections.

The council had also come under fire from the Services Union, which claimed internal investigations lacked fairness or the “necessary substance” to justify them in the first place.

Mr Gray disputed the claims at the time, saying investigations were carried out with integrity and the council had a duty for its staff to act with highest integrity.

“It’s not appropriate for Council to discuss or comment on any investigations as we need to respect the privacy of our staff, however we do understand that investigations can be confronting and can cause stress and anxiety, which is not our intention,” Mr Gray said.

Mayor Glen Hartwig thanked Mr Gray for his work.

He was not concerned the departure would damage the council’s stability or raise questions about internal unrest following the loss of its second CEO within two years.

“There is always a concern when staff movements occur for any organisation … but they are a natural part of organisational growth, development and change ” Mr Hartwig said.

“We look forward to seeing Shane … in other endeavours in the future.

“Most people accept he came to the region and took over an organisation that had considerable challenges, and we wish him the best.”

Outgoing CEO Shane Gray replaced controversial CEO Bernard Smith (pictured) who resigned less than a month after the March 2020 elections.

Mr Gray took over the job in July 2020 following the departure of Bernard Smith, who served in the role for almost a decade and resigned shortly after the March 2020 council elections, in which more than half of the councillors, including the mayor, were voted out.

His resume before joining the council included a stint as the director of corporate and financial services and deputy CEO at Murgon Shire Council from 2001-2004.

He then took over as CEO of Nanango Shire Council for three years, before becoming the CEO of the South Burnett Regional Council after amalgamation.

After leaving these roles, he spent 12 years serving as risk coordinator for the Australian branch of British-based multinational Jardine Lloyd Thompson and Local Government Mutual Services.

Mr Gray’s exit is the latest in a growing list of departures within the council’s highest ranks.

A number of senior directors and managers have left in the 22 months since the 2020 elections, including one of the new executive team brought in to work with Mr Gray, Jim Grayson.

Mr Grayson resigned from his job as infrastructure director only 10 months having taken the position.

Mr Gray will officially vacate the position 5pm Monday.

He will be replaced by financial services director David Lewis until a replacement is found.