New CEO for City announced

THE search of for a new CEO to lead the City of Greater Bendigo is over with the vacancy filled by someone from inside the organisation.

Currently a director appointed to oversee the ill-fated Commonwealth Games, Andrew Cooney will soon take on the role of CEO of the municipality.

Mr Cooney said sustainable growth will be the focus of his four-year contract, with infrastructure projects such as the Bendigo Airport and Bendigo Art Gallery expansions in the works.

“The beauty of being able to come from within the organisation, you get the chance to continue what we’ve already got going,” he said.

The incoming CEO said he would support service projects essential to the Bendigo community including maternal health, early childhood care, and recycling reforms.

“Those are really important things that happen every day, they don’t make the news, they don’t make the headlines, but people rely on them every day,” he said.

As for ensuring sustainable growth for the City, Mr Cooney said it was all about the triple bottom line.

“It’s environmental sustainability, financial sustainability, it’s health and wellbeing and it’s just about the general livability of our city,” he said.

Mayor Cr Andrea Metcalf said the decision to appoint Mr Cooney had been well received by municipal staff after what was an extensive hiring process.

“Our role was to make sure we got the best CEO for the City of Greater Bendigo and that was where our vision was,” she said.

Mr Cooney was the only local applicant for the position.

“He got the heart of what our community is about,” Ms Metcalf said. “He lives here, he’s a part of the community, he gets what our community is about and what our community is looking for and needs.”

Mr Cooney will replace current CEO Craig Niemann from 18 December.