MUSWELLBROOK Shire mayor Martin Rush has extolled the virtues of Neil Pope, following the retirement of the director of infrastructure and chief shire engineer.
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During Mr Pope’s long period of service, the road network has been substantially improved in terms of safety, efficiency, ride quality and financial sustainability.
Council also completed its timber bridge replacement program under his stewardship of the community’s infrastructure assets.
“On behalf of the elected arm of council and the community we represent, I would like to express our deep gratitude for the work of the retiring infrastructure director,” Cr Rush said.
“Since 1983, the Muswellbrook Shire has been served by just two chief engineers.
“Neil’s been in the position since 2006.
“His dedication to the role and the shire community has been unstinting right to the end and the quality of the department’s output has been exemplary as a result.
“Each one of council’s seven coal mines (which cumulatively account for 25 per cent of state mining activity) is accessed by council local roads, which present a particular problem for the communities of the shire.
“Neil led a team of professional engineers in collaboration with the NSW Government and local industry to fairly apportion the costs of safety and pavement improvements to each of the local mining operations.
“This required research and innovation in analysing and attributing pavement width and depth in a rational and defendable model, which has unequivocally led to a safer mining industry in NSW.”
In addition to his road infrastructure responsibilities, Mr Pope was responsible for the development and construction of council’s largest single capital project, the new $34 million Recycled Water Treatment Plant, which will ensure 100 per cent high quality water re-use with a substantial part of its energy requirements generated from renewable sources.
It is an enormous project which will continue to benefit the town of Muswellbrook for many years to come.
A new water treatment plant at Denman was also completed during Mr Pope’s decade of service.
“Neil has been fearless and independent in the provision of his advice,” Cr Rush said.
“His care and interest in each of his staff members and each of his projects has created an enviable culture in his department which is recognised across the Hunter.
“As a result of Neil’s service, our community is safer, our economy is stronger and our local government is healthier.
“We would like to take this opportunity to thank him for his extraordinary efforts to our community and wish him the best in his well-deserved retirement.”