HE’S been acting in the role in recent weeks but from next month Paul Phelan will officially take over as Glenelg Shire Council chief executive.

Mr Phelan was appointed by councillors at a closed session of Tuesday’s night’s monthly meeting, bringing to an end the search for a replacement for Greg Burgoyne, who is moving to the Port of Portland in the same role.

While Mr Phelan won’t officially start his new job until January 16, he has been acting chief executive for the past few weeks while Mr Burgoyne has been on leave, as well as on other occasions.

He joined the council as community services director in May 2021 and has been assets director since July.

Prior to his council experience Mr Phelan was officer in charge at the Portland police station.

He came to Portland in 2008 to manage a local caravan park, having previously spent 16-and-a-half years with police as well as roles with the Department of Child Safety in Queensland and the child and family services section of the Department of Health and Human Services in Tasmania.

About two years after moving to Portland he decided to return to police and after a stint in the divvy van he re-sat supervisor’s exams and was promoted back to Sergeant.

He managed the detectives in the sexual offences and child abuse investigation team in Warrnambool before his first posting as officer in charge at Portland in 2013.

Mr Phelan then spent a couple of years in Horsham when promoted to Inspector, before attaining the rank of Acting Superintendent.

Then for family reasons he took a reversion back in rank to again become the officer in charge at Portland.

“I’ve been in Portland for 14 years and I intend staying in Portland until I retire,” he said.

“So I’ve got a very vested interest in the local community.

“In a rural setting like this it’s important to me as a CEO that I’m accepted as part of the community.”

Mr Phelan said he had gained a lot of understanding about the council’s operations since beginning work there, prompting him to apply for the job.

“I’m very passionate about the local community, working with the community to achieve the 2040 plan and vision and the current council plan,” he said.

“I think it’s a really good opportunity to ensure that our strategic direction is aligned with those plans and remains relevant to the community.

“I have a real strong focus on engagement with the community, it’s not just a requirement of the Local Government Act, it fosters that support and co-operation with the community – I want to really focus on that.”

Mr Phelan said it would also be “really rewarding” to help deliver some of the council’s big-ticket projects that were won through the work of the executive team led by Mr Burgoyne.

“I have a real desire to see those projects through and also to look to the future and what opportunities lay ahead for us,” Mr Phelan said.

That included the prospect of several renewable energy projects, advocacy for the likes of tourism and continuing to drive economic growth and development “and how we position ourselves to be a shire of choice in the future”.

“It’s about attracting people to your local area and there are some challenges in that space, not just (the council) but across industry and all levels of government.”

The budget process is also underway, to be firmed up once the state government sets its rate cap later this month, though Mr Phelan said “that will be a matter for the elected councillors to determine, and how that aligns with our four- and 10-year financial plan”.

Mr Phelan also paid tribute to his predecessor and said he had been “very fortunate” to work alongside him.

“To an extent I’ve been mentored by Greg and I’m very grateful for that opportunity,” Mr Phelan said.

“His experience and corporate knowledge of the shire will be sorely missed and they’re big shoes to fill, but I’m looking forward to the challenges ahead.”

Mayor Scott Martin said he was pleased the search for a chief executive had ended successfully.

“It was great having the support around from fellow councillors who’ve done that before,” he said.

“It’s not an everyday thing that we do.”

He said Mr Phelan brought “diverse senior leadership and change management experience” to the role.

“We welcome Paul to his new role and look forward to working closely with him on achieving our shared goals and vision for the Glenelg Shire,” Cr Martin said.