Director of Environment and Planning Alice Howe has resigned from Central Coast Council, after being on family leave for some months.
Council has confirmed that Dr Howe resigned from her role to provide ongoing care to her family.
“Dr Howe will continue to support Council in a temporary part-time capacity,” a Council spokesperson said.
Dr Howe was appointed in March 2022, replacing Scott Cox.
She has extensive local government experience, being Community, Environment and Planning Director at Bega Shire before coming to the Coast.
Previous to that, Dr Howe worked at Lake Macquarie Council and was Newcastle Division President of Engineers Australia in 2018.
The Directorate assesses development applications and rezoning proposals as well as environmental compliance and management.
A Council spokesperson said until the role was advertised in early 2025, the role of Director Environment and Planning would be filled in an acting capacity by Jamie Loader, currently Director of Water and Sewer.
Loader has extensive experience at a senior level and also has a background in the Environment and Planning portfolio.
The Director Water and Sewer role will be back filled by Danielle Hargreaves, currently Unit Manager for Water and Sewer Headworks and Treatment.
Hargreaves has acted in the Water and Sewer Director role on numerous occasions in the past.
Council shuffling the deck chairs on a sinking Titanic, the dysfunctional Planning Department has had a conga line of interim Directors in Ms Howes absence and nothing has improved.
No wonder we have a housing crisis