Lynette Safranek joined Yass Valley Council as its Director of Corporate and Community six weeks ago, and so far, she’s loved her time in the Yass Valley.
“I’ve been here six weeks now and look it’s been great. There’s nothing like a pandemic in the midst of it to settle you down,” said Lynette.
Lynette relocated after spending nearly eight years with Oberon Council. She served there, primarily as Director of Corporate Services and for two years in between as Acting General Manager. Explaining her role with Yass Valley Council, Lynette’s responsibilities are broad.
“Basically I’m responsible for finance and governance as well I get to talk to the local businesses and community groups, and look at economic development, tourism, community events and activities. So I get a bit of a mix, which is great and I love it,” she said.
Lynette thoroughly enjoys the time she spends with local businesses and community groups and is hopeful she can become a “conduit” between the people and Council.
“At this point in time what I’m doing is spending time meeting with the business owners and the different community groups and local groups. I’d like to get to know the youth at this point in time as well.”
“It’s a little bit hard with everyone shut down at the moment but basically I’m visiting all the different towns and villages, and their community groups and representatives, and listening to what they currently are doing or hope to do. I plan to be a conduit between them and Council,” she said.
As for how she’ll ensure the perspectives and demands of the villages are reciprocated, Lynette believes presence in the community to be the most important thing.
“I think the first step is just being present there. Getting to know them, learning about the different facilities and opportunities that they have. These villages, and I’ve only seen a couple, I’ve been to Wee Jasper and Binalong at the moment, and they’ve got potential, and they’ve got lovely facilities, activities and things that could contribute to the environment of the whole Yass Valley.”
“My aim is to have Council and the community work arm in arm,” she said.
Lynette also believes part of her role is reducing some of the stigmas surrounding how councils behave within the community. It’s a role she’s quite passionate about fulfilling.
“We’re no longer rates, roads and rubbish, we are the community and people who work here are the community.”
“I love working with the young, the old and the middle age group. That’s my passion and it gives people an understanding of what Council actually does,” she said.
With a relatively new executive management team and an impending Council election, Lynette hopes that will provide the community with a fresh perspective and allow them to make continued improvements on the work of prior Council groups.
“It’s a good opportunity. We’ve got a relatively new executive management team. We’re now settled moving forward and to have a new Council moving forward with us will enable us to work together, especially once we get the CSP (Community Strategic Plan) down, we’ll be able to start working on the delivery programs and actually putting them into action,” she said.
Personally, Lynette describes her and her husband as people with simple interests, eager to settle into the community.
“I love my gardening and my husband likes his fishing. Hopefully we’ll be able to settle into the community and we look forward to being here for quite some time,” she said.
What would you like to see Lynette focus on? Send in your opinion in writing to the editor@yassvalleytimes.com.au.
Max O’Driscoll
