Opportunities for change

GEORGE COWARD

Abstract

At the present time the only constant is change. Everywhere change is occurring. Governments, community organisations and business are re-evaluating their objectives, their human resource requirements, their structure, their location and their markets.

How should we, who have an interest in urban animal management, respond to this change force?

My position is that we should view change as an opportunity to improve our operations.

This paper provides some examples of the change process at work at Blacktown City Council in the areas of:-

• Strategic Planning
• Financial Planning
• Human Resources Management
• Community Education
• Compulsory Competitive Tendering
• Community Consultation
• Legislation

Introduction

Blacktown City Council has the highest population of any Council in NSW, currently 235,000. It comprises an area of 247 sq km, contains 800 parks and reserves, 20 shopping centres, 95 schools, 2 technical colleges and one University campus.

Urban Annual Management is an important area of Council's operation with Council operating an animal housing service, an animal collection service and an animal investigation service.

About the author

George Coward BA, DipEd, MBA
Blacktown City Council
PO Box 63
BLACKTOWN 2148
Telephone: 02 9839 6100
Facsimile: 02 9831 1961

George Coward has been in senior management in Local Government for 23 years with the past two being as Director of the Health and Environmental Services Department of Blacktown City Council.

His responsibilities include Urban Animal Management and he is committed to providing a quality customer service to meet the diverse needs of the community in accordance with allocated funds.

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