End of an Era - Chris Daley Director of Infrastructure retires

Chris Daley, Director of Infrastructure at Hawkesbury City Council retired from his role last Friday having given more than 40 years of service to the Council and to the Hawkesbury community.

For the past 20 years of his 40 years 11 months and what will be 2 days service at Hawkesbury City Council, Chris has held the role of Director of Infrastructure.

Chris started as an engineering draftsperson at Windsor Municipal Council in 1971, within four years he progressed to the position of Assistant Engineer, and then in 1980, was appointed to a senior role, shortly before the Hawkesbury Shire Council was established in 1981.

During these years he devoted himself to improving his education and gained his Bachelor of Engineering Degree the same year as the Council amalgamation in 1981. In 1983 he was rewarded with the position of Works Engineer and achieved the position of Deputy Shire Engineer in 1985. In 1989 he gained his Masters of Engineering and three years later was appointed Divisional Manager of Engineering Operations, a position he held since then,  with the name of position evolving into the now Director of Infrastructure.

“Look around the Hawkesbury and there may not be a plaque with Chris Daley’s name on it but most of the major infrastructure projects certainly have his handprint on them,” said the General Manager, Peter Jackson.

“Chris has been an invaluable champion of the Hawkesbury. He’s passion for the area and for his role has lead to much improved infrastructure services in the area,” he added.

Chris has been involved in the provision of most of the major infrastructure projects within the Hawkesbury, including the construction of many community buildings, shopping centres and preschools. Over his career he has overseen major improvements in sporting facilities both in terms of sporting grounds and facilities such as the Hawkesbury Indoor Stadium and the Oasis Swimming centre.

Chris’s early work with the Bligh Park joint venture with Landcom provided not only reasonable cost housing within the area but also reaped Council funding that enabled the construction of a new library, gallery and museum and a major capital works program all of which he was responsible for.