Mayor's Column

Following yesterday’s announcement of General Manager David Sherley’s plans for retirement come January next year, I would like to sincerely wish him all the best for this next chapter and sincerely thank him for his devoted service to Council and our community. He has been a standout General Manager, and I thank and commend him for his excellent 37 years of public service in the Local Government sector. 

Dave has led the organisation with dedication and professionalism. His depth of knowledge of Local Government is remarkable, and his retirement will mark the end of an era for Bathurst Regional Council. On a personal note, I would like to deeply thank him for the support and direction he has afforded me in my privileged position as Mayor and am immensely grateful for the time I have shared with him in office. The recruitment and appointment of General Managers in local government is guided by the Office of Local Government Recruitment and Selection Guidelines for General Managers. In line with those guidelines, I will be presenting a Mayoral Minute to the August Council meeting outlining the process to be undertaken. I want to stress that, during this time, the work of Council continues, both within the Chamber and from the executive leadership team and staff while we search for a new General Manager 

Earlier this week, Council was pleased to announce our success in Round 1 of the State Government’s Faster Assessment Incentive program, receiving $1 million in funding to be put toward the extension of Lawrence Drive. This is such fantastic news for our growing region! These funds will see Lawrence Drive extended between Limekilns Road and Marsden Lane, linking essential road frontage to residential developments, including Council’s Sunbright 2 subdivision and the future land release areas at Laffing Waters.  

Looking ahead, next week is National Missing Persons Week, with 2026 marking the 38th year of this event. Missing Persons Week honours those in our community who have gone missing and raises awareness to reduce the number and impact of missing persons in Australia. The annual event is orchestrated by the Australian Federal Police and is supported throughout the missing persons sector and within the broader community to bring much needed awareness and hopefully answers for those left behind. 

Robert Taylor 

Mayor of Bathurst