Burnie City Council general manager Simon Overland to leave role in November

Controversial former Victorian police commissioner Simon Overland has announced he is quitting his job at Burnie City Council. Details >>>

The colleagues of an outgoing council general manager have praised him for transforming the state of the organisation he was tasked with looking after.

On Wednesday, Burnie City Council General Manager Simon Overland announced that he would be retiring in November.

Mr Overland, who was Victoria’s police commissioner embroiled in the Lawyer X scandal, resigned from his role as Victoria’s top cop in 2011 and moved to Tasmania to take up a job as Secretary of the Tasmanian Department of Justice. He later moved back to Victoria as general manager of Whittlesea Council in 2017 but was removed from that role in 2019.

He was appointed by Burnie Council in November 2020.

Former Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Simon Overland arrives to the Royal Commission into the Management of Police Informants at the Fair Work Commission in Melbourne, December 17, 2019. (AAP Image/James Ross)

A Burnie City Council spokesperson said his last day as general manager would be November 3.

“Mr Overland told the council that he has been considering his future for some time now.

“He advised that he has decided that he should not work out the remainder of his current five-year contract and therefore has provided the council with sufficient notice to recruit a new general manager and ensure continuity and a smooth transition.

“Mr Overland will be returning to live in Melbourne at the end of his employment with the Burnie City Council.”

The council said it would begin recruiting for a replacement “shortly”.

When contacted by The Mercury, both Mr Overland and Burnie Mayor Teeny Brumby declined requests for an interview.

Giovanna Simpson candidate for Braddon. Liberal Party campaign launch in Launceston for the 2024 state election. Picture: Rob Burnett

Deputy Mayor Giovanna Simpson said she was sad to see the general manager go and was still processing the sudden announcement.

“I have a lot of time for Simon,” Ms Simpson said.

“I value his opinion and expertise, and he’s the person that really turned our council around because otherwise, we would have been in all sorts of trouble.

“It’s quite sad, but I’m happy that he’s retiring and will be able to enjoy his life, as you should do when you get to that retiring age.

“But I’m just really sad to see him go.”

Ms Simpson, who unsuccessfully ran as a Liberal candidate in the seat of Braddon during the state election earlier this year, said Mr Overland informed her and other councillors that he would be retiring on Tuesday night.

“I think he’s been brilliant, and I think he’s done so well.

“I know that community opinion can vary on that, but I have a lot of trust, respect and faith in him.”

Fellow Burnie councillor Trent Aitken said that Mr Overland took on a challenging role when he was first recruited in 2020.

“Burnie’s a very passionate city, and people don’t like change,” Mr Aitken said.

“The man has, I think, tried his best to bring change to Burnie.

“But Burnie is very slow on accepting any change.”

Originally published as Burnie City Council general manager Simon Overland to leave role in November