Inside story: The search for the Gold Coast’s top bureaucrat with $600,000 salary as the carrot

A nationwide search was launched for the position of the Gold Coast’s top bureaucrat. But is the council CEO’s job really worth the $600,000 salary?

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A NATIONWIDE search was launched for the position of the Gold Coast’s top bureaucrat. Is the council CEO’s job worth the $600,000 salary? Surprisingly, the answer is probably yes.

This is if you listen to insiders at City Hall, about dealing with the internal politics, the size of the budget, the challenges of COVID-19 and turning around an economy based on tourism, construction and international education.

City of Gold Coast CEO Dale Dickson . Picture: Jerad Williams

Councillors met behind closed doors at full council on Tuesday for a briefing by a consultant. They left with the resumes of the top candidates.

The next step will be candidates giving presentations next Monday, again behind closed doors. Sources confirm Dale Dickson, the CEO since 2003, is among the final contenders.

A council insider told your columnist: “The reason we pay the CEO what we do is because we have a $1.7 billion operating budget and about 3500 staff. In any corporate job of that magnitude, or director generals of large state departments, a person would be paid that much if not more.

“People perceive council is just about collecting bins. That perception is rubbish. We are about to spend half-a-billion dollars this year on building stuff. There is the handling of all of the legislation. We are an exciting organisation to be part of.”

On the current round of council committee papers, the Gold Coast Reputation Strategy 2031 spells out the challenges for a CEO.

Special budget meeting at Gold Coast City Council chambers. Photo of CEO Dale Dickson and Mayor Tom Tate. Pic by Richard Gosling.

The key actions for the city include “improve dated and inaccurate perceptions” of the Coast.

A marketing strategy is needed to shift the Coast narrative, a report on the strategy says.

This is about putting old images of white shoes in a shoebox, and fast forwarding to the Coast being Australia’s small business capital, an event mecca with a new cultural centre and national sporting teams such as the Titans and the Suns.

Part of that is renewing the tired image of Surfers Paradise with “a master plan and safer night-time economy”.

Other challenges include better marketing of the arts, bolstering tourism and events.

A current strategic trend noted for attention was “growth of the Gold Coast”.

“As a city evolves and grows, local residents want to know what it means for their lifestyle. Gold Coasters want a safe city, better transport, better roads and sustainable development,” the report says.

Council CEO Dale Dickson — the city’s longest serving top bureaucrat. Picture: Richard Gosling.

The CEO will be confronted with a wave of community groups vocal about the City Plan.

The biggest challenge was highlighted by how this report was received by councillors.

Fierce debate erupted in the chamber about the $5.4 million needed to fund the strategy, with Deputy Mayor Donna Gates asking if it was necessary given the grants to other tourism bodies. Councillor Brooke Patterson was upset councillors were excluded from meetings.

A council insider added: “This is the hardest thing to deal with in the role. We have 15 people who have won a popularity contest out of about 14,000 people in their council division. They are full of ego.”

At full council meetings, Mr Dickson often places a cushion on his chair for his back, a legacy of his AFL-playing days. His tools of trade include drumsticks to belt out tunes for a band.

Council CEO Dale Dickson playing the drums. Picture: Richard Gosling.

Whether he gets an extended contract or not, these items should remain permanent fixtures for all senior bureaucrats in the council chamber. They are perfect for relieving tension.

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