Director heads north

After 18 months as Shire of Katanning’s director of engineering services, Stephen Gash will be heading north to take on new challenges.

Mr Gash is heading to the Shire of Derby/West Kimberley to take on the role of chief executive.

He is no stranger to the region, having worked as a chief radiographer for Derby Medical Centre in the past.

“While the timing isn’t great it was something I wanted to take up while I could,” he said.

Mr Gash said he was looking forward to taking on the challenges of the region, including projects such as the Browse Basin and tourism.

Before moving to Katanning, Mr Gash was the Shire of Kojonup chief executive for seven years.

Mr Gash has been a key player in major projects in Katanning, including the development of the main street, the new saleyards and the regional airstrip.

But it is the community efforts behind the re-development of Lake Ewlyamartup that Mr Gash sees as a career highlight during his time at the Shire.

“Seeing a community-driven project come into fruition has been the most rewarding,” he said.

Len Calneggia will temporarily take on Mr Gash’s role when he finishes in early March and looks forward to the challenges.

“There is quite a range you can do in local government,” he said.

“I’m used to delegating projects, I’ve never done the hands-on approach.”

Mr Calneggia took on the role of chief executive for the Shire of Dumbleyung for five months and in Wagin for four years.

It won’t be Mr Gash’s last hurrah in Katanning; he and wife Linda Royce have kept property with hopes of coming back.

“I think the Great Southern is so central to many attractions in the region; its strength is in the people and the strong sense of community,” he said.