Hunter Development Corporation (HDC) general manager Bob Hawes has resigned after deciding not to reapply for his job under new procedures introduced for senior public service executives.
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Mr Hawes has been in the role since 2011 and his contract was due to expire in 2017. As part of Government Sector Employees (GSE) reform, senior executives can apply for an appointment under a capability ‘band’ but specific positions are no longer guaranteed.
Under transitional arrangements, executives who decide not to opt in to the new system are eligible for a compensatory payout and Mr Hawes said it had provided him with an opportunity to reappraise his options.
“My days of working hard aren’t done yet but in this sort of job, five to six years is a long time,” he said.
“We have had changes to the board, changes to staff, and I am at a stage in my life where I believe I still have other things to pursue.”
Mr Hawes, who described himself as a “late baby boomer” said he had no immediate plans but would likely return to a consulting role in the fields of regional economics or property development. He will continue at the HDC until August 5.
In 2014, Mr Hawes was accused during a parliamentary inquiry into Newcastle planning of a conflict of interest over his part-ownership of development properties near the future site of the Wickham transport interchange.
This view was upheld by the inquiry and the allegations referred to the Independent Commission Against Corruption but it declined to investigate.The property was sold in 2015.
Mr Hawes said the controversy had not had a bearing on his decision to leave the HDC.
“No that is all behind me … a lot of that was just rubbish and it’s just a shame that this community, Newcastle, seems to get distracted by that stuff unnecessarily, playing the man and not the ball,” he said.
HDC chair David Evans said Mr Hawes had taken the helm “in a particularly difficult post-GFC environment” but had steered the organisation through some significant achievements, including progressing Honeysuckle, advancing land remediation on the old BHP site and Kooragang Island, and establishing and operating the Hunter Infrastructure and Investment Fund.
Planning Minister Rob Stokes issued a short statement thanking Mr Hawes for his service.
