Michelle Clarke starts as Balonne Shire Council chief executive

A new leader has stepped into the role of the chief executive of the Balonne Shire Council, announced just days after an annual report showed she was largely responsible for delivering record-breaking spending on infrastructure in the region.

Balonne Shire Councillors with the region's new chief executive officer, Michelle Clarke. Photo supplied.

All systems are go in the Balonne region, with a new leader in the top job at council, and an annual report revealing how the council delivered a record-breaking infrastructure spend.

After a months-long search, the Balonne Shire Council has finally welcomed a new chief executive officer.

Michelle Clarke has spent the past eight years as the Balonne Shire Council’s director of finance and corporate services, and prior to that has decades of experience in local government. She will begin her new role on December 20.

She said in a press release that a key issue to the region was being able to “do more with less,” in terms of fiscal resources.

“All rural and remote councils need to be innovative to be financially sustainable,” she said.

“As a council, we are heavily reliant on grant funding with only 30 per cent of our revenue coming from rates.”

She said she wants residents to know that she will “work hard for them and council (and) advocate for the region and seek to deliver the best outcomes for the Shire as a whole”.

“This council has worked strategically to improve the economy with projects such as digital connectivity, the Wild Dog Exclusion Fencing program and the Balonne Country Universities Centre,” she said.

“I am looking forward to working with council and our communities to build on the solid foundations we have already delivered and to set the strategic direction for the future.

“First will be a Grow our Own strategy, to develop local people in the roles we need in local government, because it is getting harder to attract and retain the skills we need from outside the region.”

Balonne Shire Council

The announcement comes just days after the Balonne Shire Council announced the release of their 2023/24 annual report, which revealed a record spend on infrastructure in the region.

Fittingly, mayor Samantha O’Toole said Ms Clarke was integral to achieving this financial outcome for the region.

“Michelle has been an outstanding director on council since 2017 and is best placed to lead the council team into the future,” Mrs O’Toole said.

“Her wealth of knowledge regarding local government is second to none and her leadership throughout last year’s record investment of $97m in infrastructure, essential services and community initiatives was vital to its delivery.”

While the Balonne Shire Council’s rates only raked in around $11m, Mrs O’Toole said it was the record-breaking funding levels which enabled a total spend on roads and infrastructure of $76m, and flood recovery works valued at $53m.