A NEW Moyne Shire director will walk the fine line between the council's economic and environmental issues, as he seeks balance to "future proof the shire".
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Economic development and planning director Brett Davis started in the job this month, leaving a previous role as the Victorian Planning Authority's executive director for regional planning.
Mr Davis said working with the $2.7 billion worth of wind farm projects at various stages of development in the shire was one immediate challenge.
"The council does have a strong view there needs to be changes with the wind farm policy framework and we will continue to advocate for those," he said.
"Having said that we have to deal with what's in front of us, we have to leverage the opportunity that's there."
Mr Davis said he also wanted to show potential investors that Moyne was "open for business" and he believed much of the shire's growth would continue to be in the major towns.
"The biggest challenge will be future-proofing the shire while ensuring our existing and new businesses can flourish," he said.
Melbourne-born Mr Davis said it was hard to pass on a job in what he believes is Victoria's "best region".
"I have been coming to Port Fairy for a long time, to the Folkie and as a camper, but I also met a girl from Macarthur and that was predominately how I got to know the area," he said.
He's also spent the past 15 years working mostly on projects in regional Victoria, which to him offered unmatched diversity.
"You might have a chicken shed application one day and a wind farm application the next and another from a major dairy processor the day after," he said.
"One year in a regional council would be the equivalent of three to four years in a metro council in terms of the breadth of experience."
He said listening to community feedback was one of the most important parts of getting planning decisions right.
"They're the ones with the knowledge that spans some time, and as well as the councillors," Mr Davis said.
He replaces Oliver Moles who retired last year after 11 years with the council.
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