Davis’s departure marks end of an era at Junee Shire Council

JUNEE Shire Council is preparing for a major leadership change, with long-serving general manager James Davis to step down after nearly 15 years in the top job.

His departure closes out an extraordinary era that spanned four council election cycles, three mayors, a pandemic, merger threats, and some of the biggest local flashpoints and community battles of the 21st century.

Now, as Davis prepares to leave the role he has held since 2012, Junee Shire is preparing to welcome a new general manager from the NSW Mid North Coast to lead the council into its next chapter.

Council announced in March that experienced local government executive Michael Jackson would take over the role from April 28 following an extensive recruitment process, with Mayor Bob Callow saying he emerged from a highly competitive field.

“We’re very pleased to have someone of the calibre of Mr Jackson joining us as general manager,” Cr Callow said.

“The depth and breadth of his knowledge and proven leadership skills will be an asset to Junee Shire as we continue to grow and evolve.”

Mr Jackson will commence on a five-year performance-based contract.

He brings more than two decades of experience leading multidisciplinary teams across local government and the private sector, including previous roles at Penrith City Council and, more recently, the past three years as Director of Operations and Planning at Kempsey Shire Council.

He also spent five months acting in the general manager’s role at Kempsey while the council undertook its own recruitment process.

“I am genuinely excited about the prospect of contributing to the continued success of Junee Shire Council and working closely with the team, the Councillors and the community to help shape a strong and sustainable future for our Shire,” Mr Jackson said.

“I am very much looking forward to relocating to Junee towards the end of April.”

For Junee, however, Mr Jackson’s appointment also throws fresh light on the extraordinary span of Mr Davis’s own service.

Mr Davis first joined Junee Shire Council as Manager of Planning and Development in 1997, spending 11 years in the role before moving to Wagga Wagga City Council as Manager of Economic Development.

He returned to Junee in 2012 as General Manager, succeeding Greg Campbell.

James Davis was appointed general manager of Junee Shire Council in 2012 | Photo: File/Inland Rail

By the time he leaves office, he will have spent more than 30 years in local government, including 25 years with Junee Shire Council.

That longevity gave Mr Davis a rare level of institutional memory.

For more than a decade as general manager, he provided the administrative backbone behind the elected chamber as Junee moved through four council election cycles and three mayors — Lola Cummins, Neil Smith and Bob Callow.

His tenure also coincided with one of the most demanding periods in recent local government history, both in Junee and across regional NSW.

Davis helped steer council through the state government’s controversial Fit for the Future reforms, prolonged drought, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the growing local impacts of major outside decisions such as Inland Rail and the Junee Correctional Centre transition.

Junee Shire Council’s own reporting described Fit for the Future as a significant challenge, as the council fought to prove its long-term viability and defend its independence amid merger pressure and changing expectations from Sydney.

Junee Shire Council | © The Junee Bulletin

Then came the practical pressures of keeping a rural shire moving, with roads, drainage, bridges and core infrastructure remaining a constant burden as council worked to keep pace with ageing assets and community expectations.

Over the years, that challenge played out in repeated road renewal programs, flood restoration works, stormwater drainage upgrades and major capital projects across the shire.

The community also saw a series of visible civic upgrades during the Davis era, including the redevelopment of the Athenium Theatre, the refurbishment of the Junee Library, and new investment in the Junee Adventure Park and Memorial Park playgrounds.

But the period was not defined by projects alone.

The Davis years were also marked by crisis management and adaptation.

COVID-19 forced council to rapidly change the way it operated and delivered services.

Meetings moved online, the library shifted to alternate service models, and the Junee Junction Recreation and Aquatic Centre pivoted to remote programming for residents stuck at home.

For a small rural council, it was a period of rapid operational change and community uncertainty.

One of the most public and politically charged moments of Mr Davis’s tenure came in 2023, when Junee Shire Council led the fight against the proposed closure of the Commonwealth Bank branch — the town’s last bank.

Junee Shire Council general manager James Davis (centre) pictured with former Junee mayor Neil Smith (left) addressing the 2023 Senate Inquiry into regional bank closures | Photo: Junee Shire Council

Mr Davis was central to the fight and publicly campaigned for the decision to be overturned.

The eventual reprieve was hailed locally as a monumental victory and became one of the clearest examples of Junee Council stepping beyond its traditional roads, rates and rubbish remit to advocate directly for essential local services.

Then there was Inland Rail and the long-running Kemp Street bridge saga, an issue that has loomed over Junee businesses, traffic, access and town planning for the past several years.

In the final phase of his tenure, Mr Davis was among those helping Junee navigate the local impacts, with council minutes and reporting making clear the issue was not one of passive observation, but an active negotiation over how a nationally significant freight project would affect the heart of the town.

Taken together, it is a substantial record.

For 15 years, James Davis was the senior administrative figure at the centre of some of Junee’s biggest civic challenges, battles and turning points.

Now, as a new general manager prepares to take over, one of the most significant eras in Junee Shire Council’s recent history is coming to an end.