The long fight home: Tumbarumba locals rallied for years to win back their shire – and the appointment of a chief transition officer to oversee the demerger brings that goal a step closer. Photo: Save Tumbarumba Shire Facebook.
Snowy Valleys Council (SVC) has appointed an experienced local government executive to steer its de-amalgamation – a process that will ultimately see the region return to two separate councils for the first time in nearly a decade.
Nicole Jenkins has been named as the council’s inaugural chief transition officer, responsible for leading the complex organisational split that will re-establish Tumut Shire and Tumbarumba Shire as independent entities.
In making the announcement, SVC general manager Jessica Quilty said the appointment followed an extensive recruitment process.
“This role is critical to successfully delivering the transition and Ms Jenkins brings extensive experience providing strategic advice and leading organisational responses to complex projects and change initiatives,” she said.
The council’s mayor Julia Ham said Ms Jenkins stood out during the competitive recruitment process, demonstrating strong experience in change management and local government leadership.
“We are confident Ms Jenkins will be able to hit the ground running and guide council through this significant organisational transition.”
Ms Jenkins currently serves as Executive Officer, Performance and Communications at Central Coast Council, where she provides strategic advice to the CEO and oversees the development and implementation of key strategies in performance and communications.
Her portfolio includes integrated planning and reporting, business innovation and continuous improvement, strategic communications and media, digital services and marketing, community engagement and internal communications.
She also led the development of Central Coast Council’s Engagement Strategy, adopted in March 2025.
Prior to her Central Coast stint, she served as Executive Manager, People and Performance at Campbelltown City Council – bringing a depth of experience across two of the state’s larger council operations.
According to her LinkedIn profile, Ms Jenkins describes herself as a passionate human resources leader whose career has spanned organisational development, learning and culture.
Before moving into local government, she held senior roles at Hudson – the global recruitment and talent firm – including Director of Organisational Development and Learning Solutions, where she was responsible for business partnering, instructional design and managing a global learning team.
She also served as National Learning and Development Manager at National Disability Services.
As SVC’s chief transition officer, Ms Jenkins will help steer the council’s transition team and develop an organisational change initiative and associated roadmap for de-amalgamation.
A central part of her brief will be developing budgets and plans that support sound fiscal management and sustainability of the two new separate organisations as they prepare to operate independently.
The NSW Local Government Boundaries Commission (NSW LGBC) has estimated the total transition cost at more than $4.8 million, with reestablishment of Tumut Shire projected to cost $1.414 million and Tumbarumba Shire around $932,000.
A $5 million NSW Government grant is available to help cover those costs.
The two new councils are expected to be formally established on 1 July 2028.
Snowy Valleys Council was formed in May 2016 from the forced merger of Tumut and Tumbarumba shire councils under the Baird government’s Fit for the Future reforms.
Community opposition to the merger never fully subsided, with the Save Tumbarumba Shire group leading a sustained campaign to have the decision reversed.
A formal de-amalgamation bid lodged in 2020 was rejected by then-Minister for Local Government Shelley Hancock in July 2021, despite the NSW LGBC recommending the proposal proceed.
Undeterred, the council commissioned a fresh independent assessment in 2023, which ultimately formed the basis for the LGBC’s recommendation to hold a referendum – accepted by Minister for Local Government Ron Hoenig in August 2025.
In November 2025, residents voted overwhelmingly in favour of de-amalgamation, with 87.28 per cent supporting the split.
Ms Jenkins commences her new role on 8 April.
Original Article published by Edwina Mason on About Regional.
