Council Re-engages Specialist Consultant to Drive Forward Critical

Published on 30 July 2025

Livingstone Shire Council has confirmed the appointment of Mr Graham Scott as Specialist Development Consultant for a non-extendable six-month term, to ensure delivery of priority projects vital to the region’s economic growth, housing supply, and infrastructure resilience.

Mr Scott, a former Livingstone Shire Councillor, brings a unique combination of highly specialised skills, in-depth local knowledge, and decades of strategic planning and development expertise. His appointment is a targeted response to pressing regional challenges, designed to accelerate key initiatives that will shape the future of Livingstone.

Interim CEO Alastair Dawson said Mr Scott’s engagement, while exempt from a formal tender process due to its highly specialised nature, has been driven by a strong focus on delivering practical outcomes and achieving the best possible results for Council.

“We understand the community’s expectation for due process, and while Council typically undertakes open tender processes, there are provisions for direct appointments in cases where the required expertise is highly specialised and uniquely suited to the local context,” Mr Dawson said.

“In this instance, Mr Scott’s deep understanding of Livingstone’s planning landscape, combined with his strategic acumen, makes him an exceptional and unique fit for the immediate and complex tasks at hand.”

Council also addressed concerns regarding perceived conflicts of interest, emphasising that both Mr Scott and Council officers, including the CEO, are bound by stringent legislative requirements to declare any conflicts prior to engagement in specific matters.

“To be clear, there is no financial or personal gain for either Mr Scott or Council officers arising from this engagement,” Mr Dawson said.

“Any potential conflicts of interest must, and will, be formally declared in advance should they arise. Transparency and integrity remain non-negotiable values in all Council dealings.”

In response to community sentiment regarding consultant remuneration, Council confirmed that the hourly rate of $255 reflects the standard market rate for professionals of Mr Scott’s calibre.

“This is a deliberate, cost-effective investment in securing outcomes that will benefit our entire community,” Mr Dawson said. “The value lies not in the hourly rate, but in the delivery of expert-driven, time-bound results that would otherwise require significantly longer internal ramp-up times or higher long-term staffing costs.”

“Mr Scott’s work has already delivered multi-million dollar benefits for Council and the wider community—outcomes that may not have been realised without his specialised expertise.

“He was engaged to bring forward-thinking solutions to Council’s growth challenges, and so far has done exactly that.

“His contribution has led to the implementation of a new Temporary Local Planning Instrument (TLPI), secured significant funding opportunities (with more to be announced in the coming weeks), and reduced litigation costs in several development appeals by fostering innovative and pragmatic approaches to planning.”

Among Mr Scott’s immediate priorities will be advancing the TLPI— a critical mechanism to streamline development processes, protect environmental values, and respond to rapid growth pressures.

“Delaying this work would risk lost opportunities that our community cannot afford.”

Mr Dawson acknowledged that while recent organisational realignments have set Council on a path to long-term efficiency, they have temporarily constrained specialist resources in critical areas.

“Mr Scott’s engagement is a precise, six-month measure to bridge these short-term gaps and deliver targeted outcomes without diverting from Council’s broader workforce strategy.

“This is about cutting through red tape, progressing critical projects, and ensuring Livingstone is investment-ready.”

Council reaffirmed that Mr Scott’s appointment is strictly for a non-extendable six-month period, with clearly defined deliverables and robust monitoring to ensure maximum community benefit.

“This engagement is about delivering real outcomes — not extending bureaucracy,” Mr Dawson said. “Our focus remains firmly on ensuring Livingstone Shire is well-positioned to capitalise on growth, with the housing, jobs, and infrastructure our residents deserve.”