Toowoomba council: Senior officers in planning department depart amid ‘cultural change’ by new general manager Nikola Stepanov

There has been a major shake-up inside one of the Toowoomba Regional Council’s most controversial departments, allegedly leading to a number of senior staff members leaving suddenly.

Several senior officers have left one of the Toowoomba Regional Council’s most controversial departments, in a major shake-up one insider called a “change in culture” under its new general manager.

News Corp understands high-ranking managers in planning and development, Michelle Milton and Kate Rosier, have departed the organisation leaving a vacuum of decades of experience.

Kate Rosier will be the first female CEO for Aurukun Shire Council Photo: Supplied

Michelle Milton.

Ms Rosier, who was the department’s infrastructure charges manager, has since become CEO of the Aurukun Shire Council in Far North Queensland.

Ms Milton was the department’s strategic planning manager and had been at council for more than 20 years before resigning suddenly just weeks ago.

It comes just months after highly-respected development services manager Danielle Fitzpatrick also left the organisation.

The trio was key personnel under previous general manager Stewart Somers, who was replaced by former Queensland integrity commissioner Dr Nikola Stepanov.

Development insiders allege changes in planning staff had been partly due to disagreements with Dr Stepanov.

Dr Nikola Stepanov. Picture: Liam Kidston

Mr Somers’ tenure at council had been controversial, with several developers openly criticising the organisation’s approach to approvals and future planning.

These included Clive Berghofer, Denis Wagner and Ian Knox, who have all been critical at separate points.

Mr Knox said the changeover in staff was “great news” for the council, calling it “desperately needed”.

A key figure within the sector said the changes were clear signs Dr Stepanov was shaking up leadership within the department.

“Clearly there is a process of cultural change being implemented albeit belatedly in the council’s planning department,” they said.

“With a few exceptions, I believe the development industry and business community will welcome the personnel changes that have been made to date.

“The region has lost billions of dollars in investment and flow-on employment and economic benefits as major project after major project has been abandoned in the city due to actions of an excessively and unnecessarily bureaucratic, unresponsive and at times malevolent approach to planning in the region.

“It appears the day of reckoning may have arrived for some of the chief proponents and instigators of that culture and approach.”

Stewart Somers, former general manager of planning and development at the Toowoomba Regional Council. Photo Nev Madsen / The Chronicle

Another source held concerns about how quickly council could replace key positions at a time when the organisation was not only completing its new planning scheme but also under pressure to facilitate more housing across the region.

“It took 18 months to find the new general manager and now (others) have left,” they said.

“They’ll have a lot of trouble replacing (these positions) — this sets back the town massively.”

The council was contacted for comment regarding the multiple departures from the department.

CEO Brian Pidgeon told News Corp in April Dr Stepanov had introduced a “range of initiatives” within the department since she arrived in October.

“The general manager has introduced a range of initiatives to enhance internal and external processes and services and to enhance teamwork, workplace culture and communication,” he said.

“This includes initiating a number of independent internal process and program reviews.

“The general manager has also actively supported staff who proposed, and subsequently led, internal initiatives that will enhance outcomes for council, the development industry and the community.”