Don Ramsland’s engagement comes after his predecessor Ray Kent retired from the position at the end of June.

Mr Ramsland’s employment with the shire began on August 2 and he has described his first couple of weeks as a bit of an information overload.

“There is a lot of information and issues to get your head around quickly,” said Mr Ramsland, who has extensive experience in senior local government positions.

Although he was born and bred on Sydney’s coast, Mr Ramsland said he was initially attracted to the country because of the lifestyle it offered and after spending the last 20 or 30 years here, he has developed a preference for working with communities in regional situations.

“I have no inkling to get back to the seaside permanently,” he said.

Prior to his employment in Walgett, Mr Ramsland worked with the Tenterfield, Inglewood (QLD), Wellington and Cobar Shire councils.

Mr Ramsland described himself as a local government specialist with a strong record in regional development and community issues.

His expertise should come in handy given the shire needs to develop a 10-year community strategic plan by the middle of next year under the recently established Integrated Planning and Reporting legislation.

Mr Ramsland said it would be vital to the shire’s viability in the future for council to develop a long-term strategic vision.

He has already identified tourism as an industry with a huge future in the Walgett Shire, providing it’s tackled in the right way. However, he said the council would need to consult with and seek input from the community on this and many other issues a little further down the track.

Meanwhile Mr Ramsland will also be looking for opportunities to get involved in the community outside of his official duties.

He is a keen rugby union fan as well as an avid gardener and fisherman.

Mr Ramsland is also a member of Rotary and will be looking to attend a few of the local club’s meetings shortly.