Jobs, growth and big moves: Illawarra’s week in business
From new CEOs to council roles, $7.3 billon in assets and 5300 new homes
From CEO appointments, to a bevy of senior roles around the Illawarra and a recommendation for a council to create new role to drive delivery of major projects, it’s all about movement this week.
Shellharbour’s newest CEO appointed
Wayde Peterson (pictured above), Shellharbour Council’s first engineering cadet 25 years ago, is the city’s new CEO.
The 45-year-old has spent 10 months acting in the role since after former boss Mike Archer departed the position. Archer’s contract was formally terminated in August.
Peterson, who returned to the council in 2018 after accepting other opportunities, was the council’s Executive Director, Business Enterprises before stepping up to fill the CEO void.
After expressing his wish to be involved in creating a sustainable and thriving community, Peterson said: “Collaboration with staff, local communities, partners and government will remain central to how I lead and the outcomes we achieve together.”
With roles for two town planners advertised now, the area’s continued growth is high on the council’s priorities.
“This is a pivotal time for Shellharbour City Council,” Mayor Chris Homer said. “We are setting the stage for a strong and vibrant future. Wayde’s leadership skills, strategic vision and genuine commitment to community will be invaluable in helping shape that future.”
His is the second Illawarra-related CEO appointment this week, with BlueScope confirming Tania Archibald as its first managing director and CEO. She will replace Mark Vassella, who will remain in the role until January 31, 2026.
Job openings
Good news for anyone looking to join Wollongong council’s senior leadership team - the council’s a finalist in the 2025 Australian HR Institute Awards for Best Employee Experience Strategy.
The Senior Manager City Works will “provider strategic leadership and advice ... on current trends and issues relating to the division’s area of responsibility.
The council’s also looking for a payroll manager, rates manager and a community engagement coordinator among other roles. Check out what’s open here.
Among a number of vacancies, Wollongong CBD’s Hotel TOTTO is searching for a GM, while Dovida, an aged care operator in Coniston, is after a business manager.
$7.3 billion and counting
Back to local government and who knew Wollongong City’s Council has assets valued at $7.3 billion?
Quite a few more people than last week as that stat was just one of many revealed at the fifth annual Doing Business With Council event.
The council’s general manager Greg Doyle along with a several senior staffers spoke with more than 120 local suppliers and it was infrastructure investment manager Chris O’Connor who shared some sizeable numbers.
The infrastructure delivery program includes not just existing facilities and systems used daily, but also infrastructure the council’s planning to grow as well. Take the West Dapto urban release area, he explained, will need $1.8bn investment to support the impending 19,500 homes, O’Connor explained. And that’s before the 1200km of roads, 700km of footpaths, 835km of stormwater pipes, 760 buildings and 85 sports fields are considered.
He shared valuable insights into upcoming projects while the council’s procurement team explained local weighting policies, and practical tips to help businesses strengthen their tender submissions.
You can watch the entire seminar right here.
And another thing …
We mentioned feedback on Wollongong’s draft Economic Development Strategy 2025–2035 closed this week and the Property Council of Australia shared a little of its submission.
The Illawarra Shoalhaven Regional Director Matthew Wales said Wollongong’s future success will depend on moving quickly from plans to projects. He’s urging Wollongong City Council to create a dedicated investment facilitation or “concierge” service - a single point of contact to streamline the delivery of major projects by coordinating with state agencies, utilities, and council departments.
Maybe a timely call given earlier this week the NSW Government, in partnership with Wollongong City Council, finalised new planning controls paving the way for an estimated 5300 new homes.
The North Wollongong Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) precinct sits east of the train station, spanning from Flinders Street to Kembla Street. Its boundaries run from Blacket Street and Pleasant Avenue in the north to Gipps Street in the south.
North Gong is the third agreed such project for the city, joining Corrimal and Dapto.
What we’re listening to
Now available to non-subscribers, it’s a long listen (10 parts) but quite, quite amazing. And it all started with the collapse of a bank in rural Kansas and went on to uncover a global, underground scam economy built around all the crimes you could imagine. Look for Scam Inc. from The Economist on your preferred podcast platform.
Hot ticket
From one extreme to the other …
Tickets are available for the power-packed bravado of the Nitro Circus at WIN Stadium on Friday night but if that’s not your thing, check out Screen Illawarra’s 25th anniversary screening of Mullet, at Warrawong’s Gala Cinema from 6pm on Sunday.
Shot entirely in the Illawarra in June 2000, the movie’s director and producer will be at the screening. More here.
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