Then chief executive Sunil Bhalla resigned and municipal monitor Steven Kingshott was appointed to oversee governance issues.
Mr Niemann came to Horsham council after more than 40 years of working in local government, including a long-term stint as chief executive at Bendigo.
Mayor Ian Ross thanked Mr Niemann for his work over the past seven months, and sacrifices he made to move away from his family in Bendigo during that time.
“It has been really appreciated by the new team of councillors, and the whole municipality,” he said.
“You’ve done a massive job in getting Horsham on the map and also a wider region of our neighbouring municipalities, and getting that voice into Spring Street is so important.
“That’s been one of the really great strengths in trying to get this region heard and understood.”
Cr Angela Munn said the council had been lucky to have Mr Niemann’s services in Horsham.
“ I appreciate the work Mr Niemann has done for us, outside the scope of his employment, to ensure that we are the best versions of ourselves sitting here,” she said.
Cr Cameron McDonald thanked Mr Niemann for his counsel.
“It’s been a really solid ride. Six months feels like a year. We’ve packed a lot in. Either you would have had to be brave or silly to take this on,” Cr McDonald told the council meeting.
“I wish you all the very best for your retirement, if that’s the way you’re going, and hopefully you can take a little rest after guiding us baby councillors through what’s been a really full-on couple of months.”
Cr Rebecca Sluggett acknowledged Mr Niemann’s efforts in making connections with key people to assist the council.
“I think some of those discussions will have further-reaching impacts on Horsham as a whole, and for opening those doors, I say thank you,” she said.
Mr Niemann said he did not do the job for the acknowledgement but was pleased to be recognised.
He said during his 40-plus years working in local government, the rules were the same but the people and places made it different.
“My local government career has been in and around Bendigo, where I’ve known that environment really well, so part of the interesting piece about this is coming to meet new people, learn about new things, and in a different environment,” he said.
Mr Niemann said his time had been busy with the election of a new council – including many new councillors, the proposed rock climbing bans at Arapiles, bushfires in nearby shires, and assisting the council recruit a new chief executive.
“I think it’s really important you recognise Horsham is a regional centre and a regional city, and it plays that regional piece in terms of local government and a whole heap of other things that happen around here,” he said.
“ So lift your sights up a little bit because of that – you need to.
“It’s a regional city that does service a much, much broader area and region.”
Mr Niemann also thanked staff and the council’s executive team including corporate services director Kim Hargreaves, infrastructure director John Martin, communities and place director Kevin O’Brien and executive assistant Fiona Kelly, and Mr Kingshott, who will be in the municipal monitor role until the end of June.
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