“Initially employed in a secretarial role within the planning department,” mayor Troy said.

“Emma progressed her career to perform a range of planning functions within council.  Emma studied a course, whilst also working as a planner within council, and showed a particular interest in local heritage where she had the opportunity to combine her considerable local knowledge with her knowledge of the planning system.

“Before Emma left council, she undertook some valuable work in documenting systems and processes for which her secretarial skills and planning experience were particularly useful.   

“Emma was also working as council’s duty planner, where her understanding  and compassionate nature helped to smoothly guide many potential applicants through the planning system and we all know this can be daunting for people not familiar with planning procedures.

“Also here is Emma’s grandmother, local legend Mary Anderson. Mary is a former Bellingen Shire councillor and Bellingen Librarian.

“Emma will be sadly missed but we wish her well in her new journey in life.”