Leeton's Craig Bennett has been announced as Glen Innes Severn Council's new General Manager.
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The Tasmanian-born trained accountant, in an interview with the Examiner, revealed a plan to get rural flights into the defunct Glen Innes airport, while resurrecting plans to establish a flight school there.
But he said his "90 day agenda" was largely about consultation.
"The biggest priority is making sure the council's consulting with the community, making sure that whatever we're doing is actually what services the community wants," he said.
"That will be one of the first conversations, making sure that that's aligned."
Another priority: generating employment with an operational flight centre at an upgraded airport.
"I've got some ideas about having REX and QantasLink coming through Glen Innes, I think that will help with generating employment."
He said the airport upgrade could be funded by state and federal government grants, and compared the model to Leeton's "hub and spoke" relationship with its regional centre, with New England's Armidale behaving similarly to Griffith.
For months there have been whispers about interest in the airport, but nothing concrete.
Last year a years-long plan to lease the large disused facility to train Chinese pilots came crashing down to earth, after the expenditure of multi-millions of state and federal taxpayer upgrading the airstrip for the scheme. Council last year conducted talks with Qantas and another interested party about a plan to train 500 pilots a year at the centre.
Craig Bennett said he'd asked around local government circles about the Glen Innes Severn council and had largely heard it was "well run" but a bit stale.
"It's about reinvigorating the council and through it potentially the community," he said.
"It's all about being positive and looking to the future."
He said for the first three months he will make few changes, aiming just to "rub the diamond" to bring out its shine.
The 48 year old is currently Leeton's director of corporate and community. When he takes the top job on October 1 it will be his first time as a council General Manager, and his first time living in Glen Innes.
In his 25 years in local government, Mr Bennett has worked for councils in Tasmania, WA, Victoria and in regional NSW councils like Woollahra, Muswellbrook and Griffith.
Mayor Carol Sparks said she the council was unanimous in its choice of replacement GM, after a comprehensive selection process involving a wide range of candidates.
"Craig brings to the role a strong knowledge of, and experience in local government. He is ideally placed to lead the organisation of Council into the future," she said.