Meet your Councillors and Mayor
Meet your Bega Valley Shire Councillors as elected at the Local Government election on Saturday 14 September 2024.
Back row left to right: Councillor Tony Allen, Mayor Russell Fitzpatrick, Councillor David Porter, Councillor Simon Daly.
Front row left to right: Councillor Clair Mudaliar, Councillor Peggy Noble, Councillor Helen O'Neil, Councillor Peter Haggar, Deputy Mayor Mitchell Nadin.
Councillor profiles and contact details
Bega Valley Shire Council operates under the framework of the NSW Local Government Act 1993 and is governed by a body of elected representatives comprising the Mayor and Councillors. These representatives are elected by the community every four years, with the next local government election scheduled for September 2028.
The Council provides civic leadership, sets strategic direction, and determines policy to guide the organisation in delivering services and infrastructure to the community. Councillors work collectively to represent the interests of the entire Shire, as Bega Valley Shire is an undivided local government area - meaning there are no wards or ridings.
The Mayor is elected by the community and serves as the principal spokesperson and leader of the Council. The Deputy Mayor is elected by the Councillors from among themselves every two years, typically in September, to support the Mayor and act in their absence.
Council’s decision-making is supported by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), who is responsible for implementing Council policies and managing day-to-day operations in accordance with Council’s strategic direction.
In New South Wales local government, the roles of the Mayor and Councillors are defined under the Local Government Act 1993. Here's a summary of their key responsibilities:
The role of the Mayor
The Mayor is both a member of the governing body and the civic leader of the local government area. According to Section 226 of the Act, the Mayor’s responsibilities include:
- Providing leadership to the council and the community.
- Advancing community cohesion and promoting civic awareness.
- Presiding at council meetings to ensure they are conducted efficiently and in accordance with the law.
- Carrying out the civic and ceremonial functions of the mayoral office.
- Representing the council at official functions and in the media.
- Leading the development of strategic plans and ensuring the community is engaged in the planning process.
The role of a Councillor
Councillors are elected to represent the interests of residents and ratepayers and form the governing body of the council. Their responsibilities, as outlined in Section 232 of the Act, include:
- Directing and controlling the affairs of the council in accordance with the law.
- Providing civic leadership and advocating on behalf of the community.
- Developing and endorsing strategic plans, including the Community Strategic Plan and Delivery Program.
- Ensuring financial sustainability and responsible resource allocation.
- Monitoring council performance, including service delivery and regulatory functions.
- Appointing and overseeing the General Manager, who is responsible for operational management.
Councillors can be contacted by phone, email or post, visit Your Councillors for contact details. Councillors can respond to any correspondence sent directly to them.
Correspondence requiring an official response will be responded to by staff and should be addressed to:
The Chief Executive Officer
Address: Bega Valley Shire Council, PO Box 492, BEGA NSW 2550
Email: council@begavalley.nsw.gov.au
If you would like any or all of the Councillors to have copies of any official correspondence, you can ask Council staff to provide a copy of your correspondence to them. Alternatively you can forward copies of your correspondence to Councillors yourself using the contact details above.