Tenterfield Shire Council is embracing the NSW Government’s Fresh Start Program, offering on-the-job training for long-term careers in the local government sector.

Lismore MP Janelle Saffin, who helped broker the $252.2-million statewide initiative with Local Government Minister Ron Hoenig and the United Services Union, said the recent milestone of 500 approved positions ‘on the tools’ was proof of early success.

The six-year program was launched last year, and more than 60 per cent of these new roles are boosting the workforces of regional or rural councils.

Tenterfield Shire General Manager Hein Basson said the Council had been successful in employing two trainees in its water and sewer section.

“In addition, it has just been advised that six apprenticeship positions have been approved for our Infrastructure Services Department,” Mr Basson said.

“Council is indeed grateful to the State Government for the Fresh Start Program initiative and looks forward to keep on participating in this program and hopefully be successful with some of its other applications.”

Mr Basson said Tenterfield Shire Council, individually, and the local government sector collectively, are in dire need to start building capacity again within this sphere of government closest to the people.

“The attraction and retention of trained and experienced staff have become a real challenge for councils – therefore, we have to grow our own!,” Mr Basson said.

“Council acknowledges that this initiative is a longer-term investment, but it looks forward to the fruit it will bear for its community into the future.”

Tenterfield Shire Council has also suggested that the initiative become a permanent program. Tenterfield Shire comes under the Fresh Start Program’s New England region, which, as of last month, was funding 32 recruits across participating councils.