Dungog Shire Council

Labourer Operator Parks & Gardens

About us

Dungog Shire Council supports a growing rural community of almost 10,000 residents in the vibrant and picturesque Hunter region of NSW. We are committed to ensuring the ongoing and consistent delivery of local services that are valued by our community and will be for generations to come.

It is anticipated that our population will grow by 1.9% per annum over the next 20 years as per the Hunter Regional Plan, higher than the state growth average. With an additional 2,400 dwellings to be provided over the term of the Hunter Regional Plan, Dungog will be the second fastest growing LGA in the Hunter Region.

Dungog is ideally located just over an hour north of Newcastle and within close proximity to a range of other regional hubs in the Hunter Valley, such as Maitland and Raymond Terrace. We have an enviable lifestyle with easy access to World Heritage listed sites, such as Barrington Tops National Park.

Your next opportunity 

We are looking for a Labourer Operator to join our Parks and Gardens team. In this role, you’ll enjoy varied work in the community where you take on a number of manual labouring tasks and plant operations associated with undertaking construction and general maintenance works in our parks and reserves. Specific work areas include park and turf maintenance, the construction and maintenance of play equipment and other minor structures, landscaping works, playground safety inspections, street tree maintenance, street cleaning and the operation of small plant and equipment.

Essential selection criteria include (full criteria in the Position Description below):

• Class C Driver Licence
• Proven ability to operator park maintenance plant and equipment
• Demonstrated experience in all aspects of work relevant to this position
• Proven interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills
• Proven ability to work as part of a self-managed team
• Literacy and numeracy to Year 10 or equivalent
• Understanding of the Work Health & Safety Act 2011
• White Card
• Competence in the operation of small plant and equipment (e.g. chainsaw) 

On-the-job training we can offer:

• Class MR (or higher) Driver Licence
• Front End Loader qualification
• First Aid certificate
• Playground equipment maintenance
• Certificates for other plant and equipment 
• Chainsaw qualification
• Chemical handling and spraying

Be rewarded

This position is placed at Grade 2 of Council’s Salary System. The salary offered is in the range of $54,287 to $61,066 plus 11.5% Superannuation (plus market allowance), dependent upon competency level and in accordance with Council’s Salary Policy.

This is a permanent, full-time position offering the benefit of a 38-hour, 4-day working week with ongoing training and development, with most team members working between 6:30 AM and 4:30 PM.

Other Council benefits:

• Access to a Council vehicle for work-related travel throughout the day
• 3 weeks annual sick leave
• Ongoing opportunities for professional development: We have annual assessments for all Council employees to put plans in place for training and career progression so that you can broaden your horizons during your time with us
• Access to Long Service Leave after 5 years rather than 10, and additional leave entitlements
• Access to Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

How to apply

Thank you for your interest in working with Dungog Shire Council.

You can apply now using our simple online application form. You are able to start an application and complete it at a time that suits you by selecting the Save For Later button.

To submit your application, please follow the below steps:

1. Fill out the required personal details and online questions below
2. Attach the requested documents (e.g. resume, cover letter, qualifications, licences)
3. Review your application and select Confirm

What happens next?

You will receive an automated acknowledgement email once you have submitted your application. We will be in touch once we have reviewed all applications. Please note that Council reserves the right to review applications before the close date, so we recommend you apply as soon as possible if you are interested in this position. 

Please be aware that Council is required to complete pre-employment checks on recommended candidates prior to an offer of employment. These may include: reference checks, pre-employment medical assessment, criminal history check and/or psychometric assessment.

For further information, please contact: Nigel Atkins, Works Manager on (02) 4995 7777

Applications close: Tuesday 18 March 2025 at 11:59 PM AEST

Click here to view the Position Description