PRACTICAL delivery of services and setting affordable standards are the goals of Loddon Shire’s new operations director Steve van Orsouw.
Mr van Orsouw started in the role on Monday after being recruited from Moyne Shire Council, based at Port Fairy, where he had been manager assets and infrastructure.
His 32-year career in local government began as an apprentice gardener with the then-Castlemaine City Council and he has since held senior management roles at Mount Alexander Shire, Central Goldfields Shire and the City of Ballarat.
Mr van Orsouw has been a board member of Municipal Works Operations Australia since 2017. The association has a membership of local government professionals, consultants, contractors and suppliers.
Mr van Orsouw has spent this week touring driving Loddon roads and inspecting facilities.
“I am wanting to work collaboratively with council and the communities,” he said.
“The asset management plan review is happening now ... it’s important that the standards we set are affordable and that we are practical in how we deliver our services.
“We’ll certainly be hitting the ground once the council budget is approved with an early start on planned work from July.
“My first 100 days will be about getting out and meeting people, developing relationships.”
Mr van Orsouw replaced Steve Phillips as operations director. Mr Phillips had been in the position since 2016 and spent 16 years with Loddon Shire.