I'm the manager of statutory services, I'm responsible for planning, building, and environmental health. My team makes sure structures are built to a specified code, we approve permits to build houses, consider areas where future houses can go, and ensure that food premises are safe and hygiene codes are being adhered to.
Tell us about your career journey? I worked as a public transport planner in the UK. When I emigrated, I was the first female transport planner in the Victorian state government.
After working on the Hume regional growth plan, I decided to jump into local government and see how those plans would be perceived at a local level.
I’ve been with RCOW for eight and a half years and my area of expertise has expanded with my current role. I started here as the Planning Coordinator for about 18 months and then I got this gig when the former manager left.
Why have you stayed so long? Because every day is different, and I've been well supported and empowered to make, sometimes difficult, decisions by our councillors, and senior managers.
What are some of the biggest changes you've seen during your time here? There are continuous changes to legislation but because I'm well supported, I feel that I can cope with those changes.
I think we're coming up to a big period of change. Changes to the building act and planning scheme will be considerable and complex. I believe it will reduce the income of planning permits and increase the likelihood of complaints and enforcement activities.
I'm also quite excited about the potential of AI. Particularly for taking care of those more menial tasks which will allow planners more time to think about the bigger picture. I think you've either got to get with the program or move on.
Is there a project achievement or moment that you're particularly proud of? There's a very important human side to my job and I’m very proud of my reputation for good customer service, problem solving and helping people.
I’ve also recently realised that having a culmination of career experience means that members of the public often respect you and come to you because they feel confident that they're going to get an outcome that they can live with. They may have wanted a castle and have ended up with a unit, but it's something that they can live with.
How does your work contribute to the Wangaratta community? The wonderful thing about my job is that I get to see the results of my paper shuffling and negotiations every day with things you can touch and feel. Our team has contributed to things like the Ellerslie Hop Estate in Myrrhee, Dan Murphy's, the Quest Hotel in the CBD, and the Wangaratta growth areas that will allow for our municipality to expand and grow.
What is something people might be surprised to learn about working at RCOW? The nice thing is flexibility. I think there's a lot of flexibility so that you can get that work-life balance. I think if you've not worked in local government before, you would be surprised by the plethora of things that we do.
Why would you recommend Wangaratta as a place to live and work? The thing that I really like about working for council is our location in the CBD. It's convenient for shopping and attending sports and all those other things. But you're also right in the community, you get to see and hear what’s going on. Also, our region is just beautiful. For me, it's just home.
Clare Cowdery, interviewed July 2026