10 March 2017

Dawes resigns amid Land Development Agency restructure

| Charlotte
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David Dawes

Land Development Agency CEO David Dawes has announced via an email to staff today that he will not apply for a role in either the City Renewal Authority or the Suburban Land Agency, the bodies that will replace the LDA from July 1.

Mr Dawes will not reapply for his other role as Director-General of the ACT Government’s Economic Development Directorate.

The senior executive joined the ACT public service in 2007 following a career in real estate and small business.

ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr announced earlier this week that the LDA would be replaced by the two aforementioned new bodies, and confirmed the ACT Government would appoint heads for each of them as well as a separate person to head the directorate.

It is not known yet whether the City Renewal Authority and Suburban Land Agency will continue to operate as part of the Economic Development Directorate.

The restructure of the LDA was announced a few days before the ACT election last year after the ACT Auditor-General, Maxine Cooper, issued a damning report into the agency’s handling of two land deals.

Here is the full text of the email to staff today:

dawes

Colleagues,

I have chosen not to apply for the new positions created by the splitting of the ACT Government’s
land-related activities and plan to leave the public service when the new arrangements come into effect on 1 July.

I am proud of what has been achieved during the 10 years I have spent serving the people of Canberra in the ACT Public Service. These achievements include record levels of land release, with more than 37,000 dwelling sites released for Canberra’s growing population since I joined the Government in 2007; delivery of the affordable housing action plan; establishment of the land rent scheme; enhancements to Manuka Oval including installation of lights; introduction of international flights; delivery of a contract for a government office block in the city; public housing renewal; delivery of the Business Development Strategy; and establishment of the CBR Innovation Network.

I would like to thank the committed, professional and tireless Land Development Agency and Economic Development staff who have consistently given their all to deliver positive outcomes for the territory and its residents.

After a decade of rewarding and busy public service I look forward to taking some time off before making decisions about my ongoing career.

Regards,

David Dawes
Director-General, Economic Development
Chief Executive Officer, Land Development Agency

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John Thistleton4:40 pm 10 Mar 17

Best wishes DD. More time to walk your Welsh Corgi champions, perhaps. Or the private sector?

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