Council & Business
5 June, 2026
Jim Nolan resigns from Pyrenees Shire
Pyrenees Shire CEO Jim Nolan recently announced his resignation after more than 11 years in the role. The Advertiser spoke with Mr Nolan reflecting on his tenure at the shire, along with his nearly 40 years working in local government.
What have been some of the most memorable moments during your time with Pyrenees Shire?
The natural disasters are certainly very memorable, particularly the difference between disasters as well. Fires are really terrifying. The fires in February 2024 when Mount Cole and Mount Buangor forest were on fire, and we had a catastrophic day which blew those embers across Beaufort and it resulted in most Pyrenees Shire communities having to evacuate. That was something I never want to have to do again. It was really terrifying for a lot of our communities.
Bushfires are something that a lot of Victorians are really well aware of unfortunately because of events in recent years, but it was one of the more memorable events during my term at Pyrenees Shire anyway.
But, there have been good and positive things as well. The satisfaction of being able to achieve things in the community, whether they be bringing communities together, building infrastructure, or making a difference to people. A lot of the time it’s about getting out of the way and letting communities do what they need to and that is particularly the case in a lot of rural councils and farming communities where people are really good at what they do, relying on roads, bridges and waste collection and those sorts of things, and they prefer to see councils get out of the way and let them do what they need to do. But it’s just enjoyable to be able to make some differences for people.
Apart from bushfires and floods, significant things have been droughts, that is going to continue being an issue for the community into the future. The need for water and access to water is something I have worked hard on to try and position Pyrenees Shire for investment in that space, and I wish my successor all the best in doing that.
You went from civil engineering to working in local government management. Talk about that timeline.
After I completed my civil engineering degree in Ballarat, my first job was in local government. I accepted a position with Glenelg Shire which was far west of the state. I spent a number of years working there on civil engineering projects, particularly bridges and road construction. I came from an engineering background, and it’s not uncommon for councils to employ lots of engineers, in fact I found out recently that the current local government minister started off as an engineer, it often happens when people with technical skills move their way into management roles.
What are some of the big changes in local government you saw over those 11 years?
Things have gotten a lot more complex. There is a lot more administration, and somewhat more bureaucracy being associated with being part of government. Every time a new law is made, there is an expectation that councils are going to implement it. That adds cost, time and effort to being able to get things done and that can be really frustrating to people. I think that has been a big challenge. There have always been expectations and requirements to comply and that’s what being a responsible local government requires.
I think there is a growing sentiment in the community that it slows things down and prevents things from getting done and it can be a bit frustrating for communities that perhaps don’t often understand the reasons for the laws and the adminstration that goes with it, I suppose that is one of the not so fun things, and it has definitely been a big change. Another is the challenge for local government, the cost to be able to deliver services is growing at a higher rate than what council’s revenue is. That sharpens the attention on financial sustainability for small rural councils. That is certainly going to be a challenge for the future.
One of the other changes is being in the space for renewable energy. It has certainly being shipped in government policy and that has been a big impact for Pyrenees Shire with the establishment of wind farms and the conversation drive toward renewable energy zones and transmission lines. That has certainly been an important one for Pyrenees Shire.
What does it take to be in that position for over a decade?
You have to be pretty resilient, open to change, and I think it’s really important to establish a lot of collaborations with process.
Any one council can’t do things entirely on their own. Councils rely on communities, they rely on the private sector and businesses, partnerships with the Victorian Government and also with other councils to be able to get the best outcomes for communities.
One of the big things I have learnt, is the need to engage and to do things with others and collaborate.
What are your plans after you finish in July?
I’m looking forward to a break. I have been in local government for 37 years, with Pyrenees Shire for 11, I am really proud of what council has achieved in my time.
Like anything, change is inevitable, leadership is inevitable so, leadership change is inevitable.
I think now is a good time for someone else to come in and bring some new leadership and some fresh eyes to the situation. I am looking forward to the next chapter. I have some things I’d really love to do, some travel, to be more present with family, and to just give some attention to health and aging.
I am really concious people in their 60s and 70s die before their time, I’d rather do what I can to focus on my health and wellbeing and enjoy some of the things I like to do while I still can.
I do want to recognise Pyrenees Shire Council for giving me the opportunity to work with them and them putting their trust in me to be able to do that.
We have incredible people that work in the small team here. We are a very small council and we punch above our weight in many respects and that is due to the calibre of people that have been employed and I wouldn’t enjoy this role nearly as much if I didn’t have the support of the team around me and it has been a wonderful thing to have those professional people, people that really care about doing something in the community by working for the council.
Mr Nolan will finish his role on July 10, 2026 before the appointment of an interim CEO.