“We’re looking at the structure, we might need to do a few tweaks, but that’s something I’ll need to come up with a business case for and show why it makes good sense,” Mr Thompson said. “To get the trust of the community I need to work in the community and earn that trust. I’m not known for surprises, I’m known for being pretty blunt.”

Mr Thompson was named Wagga’s newest general manager in October, eight months after Alan Eldridge was sacked. When Mr Eldridge took over the role in 2015, reform was also on the agenda, leading to 10 full-time job cuts and a shakeup in senior management.

When asked what he thought the role of a general manager was, Mr Thompson said it was to interface between the democracy and the bureaucracy – the elected councillors and the staff.

“Ultimately, the general manager is the one accountable when things go wrong, that’s my job,” he said. “I’m a ‘yes’ person, council’s bureaucracy should facilitate what the community wants to do. If someone walks through the doors and it can be lawfully done, then we should be using our professional skills to deliver what that person wants to do.”

According to council, the former planning chief and “general counsel” at Tamworth Regional Council was an accredited specialist in local government and planning law, with seven years’ experience in private practice and had worked for the NSW Environment Protection Authority and the Department of Land and Water Conservation. 

Development was one of the key themes of a media briefing held outside the civic centre on Thursday morning, where Mr Thompson spoke of his desire to help Wagga grow.

“I’m here to progress the interests of Wagga in this exciting political environment (and) in terms of the funding available I want to make sure Wagga gets more than its fair share,” Mr Thompson said. 

“The state government is supporting regional development (and I want to) get development here so that as kids grow up or as people choose to move here they have good career opportunities and a great lifestyle and council is integral to providing that.”

Mr Thompson said his first meeting as general manager was with council workers at the Fernleigh Road depot at 6.15am. 

“Meeting with the outdoor staff was something I particularly wanted to make a high priority,” Mr Thompson said. “I want it to be clear that I’m here to progress Wagga’s interests in all areas including the work they do.”