Murphy our new General Manager

LISMORE City Council yesterday announced South African-born New Zealander Gary Murphy would take over the reins in August.

Lismore New General Manager Gary Murphy. Picture: Supplied

AFTER a marathon six-hour meeting on Tuesday night to pick a replacement for retiring general manager Paul O’Sullivan, Lismore City Council yesterday announced South African-born New Zealander Gary Murphy would take over the reins in August.

Speaking from New Zealand yesterday, Mr Murphy said his focus would be community and economic development.

“Having worked in the private sector I have an understanding of commercial realities and pressures, and I have a very strong community focus which has been a big part of my current job,” he said.

Mr Murphy, who moved to New Zealand from South Africa in 1996, was one of 44 applicants for the top council job.

Mayor Jenny Dowell said councillors were delighted he had accepted the role.

“Mr Murphy has a strong reputation of community development, is regional-focused and has strong commercial and marketing skills with an emphasis on sustainability,” she said.

With a mixture of private sector and local government background, Mr Murphy most recently was the chief executive of Buller District Council in the north-west of New Zealand’s South Island – a position he has held since November, 2003.

Although Buller only has a population of about a quarter of the size of Lismore, he said there were a lot of similarities between the two areas.

Before taking on job at Buller Council, the 44-year-old was employed as an engineering consultant for road projects.

He is also a chartered professional engineer with postgraduate qualifications in civil engineering, which will no doubt come in handy when dealing with Lismore’s potholed road network.

Mr Murphy will move to Lismore with his wife, Michelle, and their school-aged daughter, leaving the couple’s other daughter in New Zealand to finish her university degree there.

“Michelle and I have spent the last week in and around Lismore,” he said.

“We are excited about making our home here.”

Originally published as Murphy our new General Manager