John Walker takes the reigns as Lismore City Council’s new general manager

John Walker “happy to deliver” on the change Lismore asked for.

Lismore City Council new General Manager John Walker with Mayor Steve Krieg at Lismore council chambers Oliver Avenue Goonellabah, 9 February 2022

Lismore City Council Mayor Steve Krieg has introduced the fifth in a line of new interim general managers after a confidential council vote shut down a rescission motion to keep Michael Donnelly in the position on Tuesday.

John Walker, from Casino, takes the reigns from Mr Donnelly after he only served 364 days in the role.

With decisions held in confidential council meetings on the appointment of the new general manager the community were asking why the shift was necessary.

Mayor Krieg said he chose Mr Walker, who comes with “extensive local government experience” as well as corporate experience for his track record and “history of implementing change”.

He defended his decision stating that he was put into the job of Mayor to create a change for Lismore.

“I believe this is the first and most monumental step in making the positive change that the people of Lismore want to see,” Mr Krieg said.

Mr Walker comes into the role of general manager directly from Managing Director of Jonicapatch Pty Ltd.

He served Richmond Valley Council for a period of four years as CEO and also at that level for the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder for five years.

“The Mayor has talked about his mandate and I think it was pretty clear from the last election that people wanted a change,” Mr Walker said.

“The Mayor was elected, the team was elected, and I’m happy to come in and work with the council to deliver on that expectation.

“I will work with council to their agenda, and to bring the organisation strongly behind what the council has been told and what the people are saying – and that’s a big challenge.”

Unafraid of challenges Mr Walker said he intends to spend time with senior management and key decision makers to get Lismore council’s financial affairs in order.

“We all need to live within our means, but we haven’t been,” he said.

The new general manager will be focusing on roads, infrastructure, development and housing and said that it is important to get these issues “right”.

He said he had favourable relationships with his previous workplaces and would not comment on allegations of misconduct nor speculation on social media.

Although Lismore Council’s new general manager resides in Casino he said more than 50 people have already asked him about matters concerning Lismore.

“Potholes are definitely something we’re hearing a lot of,” he said. “We will be looking into many areas for funding.”

Mr Walker is skilled in strategy, turnarounds, economic development, business planning, finance, and entrepreneurship.

He holds an Associate’s degree focused in Business and Local Government from RMIT and Executive education at Harvard Business School, Oxford University and Canberra University.