Tweed Shire Council

Recreation Planner – Policy and Legislation

Join our team to shape the future of recreation and open spaces across the Shire! This role involves developing strategic policies, plans, and management frameworks to enhance community recreation and open space provisions. You'll engage with stakeholders, interpret planning legislation, and ensure high-quality outcomes for new developments. Strong communication and negotiation skills are essential.

About the role:

• Develop strategic shire-wide recreational and active community strategies and policies, including site and issue-specific plans.
• Review and provide advice on new development related to Council’s open space and recreation assets to ensure quality and diversity.
• Liaise and negotiate with various communities and specific interest organisations.
• Analyse and interpret planning legislation and data to develop plans and policies for our recreation and active community assets.
• Develop recreation and active community strategies and polices based on Council and State policies and expressing values and predicted future needs for our community.
• Point of contact concerning public land plans of management and interpretation of relevant legislation.

What's on offer:

• a base salary ranging from $95,331 per annum with competency-based increments up to $109,716 per annum, plus 11.5% super
• a maximum-term contract up to 12 months, with the possibility of extension or permanency subject to performance, funding and operational need
• 70 hour, 9-day fortnight
• training and development opportunities
• flexible work options for a healthy work/life balance
• generous employment conditions (we have too many to list - click here for more).

We are seeking:

• Degree in Recreation Planning or related discipline.
• Experience in developing complex public recreation/open space strategies, policy and plans of management.
• Well-developed written and verbal communication skills, including negotiation and conflict resolution. 
• Understanding of NSW planning framework and legislation relating to the use, management and development of public land. 

About us:

• Located on the picturesque far North Coast of NSW, bordering the Gold Coast.
• The Tweed is a vibrant, diverse location offering a lifestyle near the water, in a rainforest or on a farm.  
• Tweed Shire Council is committed to employment equity and diversity and encourages applications from people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds in both traditional and non-traditional roles.  We provide workplace adjustments for people with disability, and access to flexible work options. 
• Join an employer of choice. Professionals Australia (Local Government Engineers’ Association) has named Council the 2021 Employer of Choice for our great employment practices within NSW local government. 

Where it's located:

This position is based in Murwillumbah and can be directed to work from any Council work site.

Position closes: 

Friday 11 April 2025 at 12 noon sharp (NSW time).  Late applications will not be permitted.

Click here to view the Position Description 

TIPS for Addressing the Selection Criteria

Click here for more information on the Recruitment Process

Click here to view our Values

Pre-Employment Screening:

Tweed Shire Council conducts pre-employment assessments as part of its recruitment process. 

Job offers are not made until screening has been completed. Tweed Shire Council uses third-party providers to undertake:

• Pre-employment medical – some roles require a functional (physical) assessment, and all positions are subject to drug and alcohol screening (a positive test result means the recruitment process ends and your application will not be considered).
• Background screening - verifies that the information you have provided throughout the recruitment process is true and correct.  Click here for more information.

Reference Checks are undertaken by the panel. Your 2 referees should ideally be your current and most recent supervisors.  Your referees are not contacted unless you’ve been interviewed and are a preferred candidate.

How To Apply:

You must use your own email address, and not one used previously by another person that has applied for a position with council.

Once you start your online application, you cannot save and return to it later. 

1. Have your Resume document ready to go.
2. Fill out all questions below. Click 'Next'. 
3. You'll then be prompted to attach your resume and other documents (if applicable). Click 'Next'.
4. Review your application to confirm everything is correct. Click 'Confirm' to submit your application.

If you'd like to COPY and PASTE question fields into a separate Word document to work on over time, please find them listed below:

1. Do you hold degree-level qualifications in Recreation Planning or a related discipline?
2. Please describe your experience in developing complex public recreation/open space strategies, policy and plans of management.
3. Describe your experience engaging internal and external stakeholders. 
4. Describe your competence in policy and instrument development and implementation within a local government environment.
5. Describe your understanding of key legislation relating to the management, use, and development of public land, including the Local Government Act 1993, Crown Land Management Act 2016, Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, and Native Title Act 1993, as well as the broader NSW planning framework. 

SK97188A

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