City CEO: Ignore ‘white noise’ and get on with it
GOLD Coast City Council CEO Dale Dickson has revealed he has learned to block out the “white noise” of accusations around contentious community issues such as the sale of Bruce Bishop Car Park.
In a rare and candid interview ahead of the release of the Gold Coast Bulletin Power 100, Mr Dickson said implacable focus and relentless work ethic allowed him to weather attacks and get on with the job of leading what is arguably the city’s most complex organisation.
He said those opposed to the council’s $48 million sell-off of the Surfers Paradise car park, to help fund the $125 million cultural precinct, would eventually see the sense of the decision.
The sale has been dogged by multiple legal actions and complaints to the Crime and Corruption Commission, which are still unresolved.
“While there is a lot of controversy over the funding it’s actually quite a straightforward and important strategic direction to deliver a cultural precinct for a city of this size,” Mr Dickson said of the cultural precinct.
“The story in terms of things like the transit centre will become clear in time and I think it will be seen for what it is – quite a sensible decision to fund a major investment.”
The CEO has headed the council for 15 years and in 2018 also served on the board of the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee and on the infrastructure board for the Games.
He’s responsible for a permanent staff of 3400 and a temporary workforce of 450 – a role he said dominated his time and headspace.
“It’s very important to be calm and measured so you’re not caught up in the politics of the day, you’re calm measured and you make the right strategic decisions, intelligent decisions that set us up for future success,” he said.
“You’ve got to have a huge work ethic, no question – it’s not a nineto-five job.
“People don’t see me out at nightclubs or whatever, you’ve got to be disciplined and look after yourself because without that you’re not going to be able to do the job.
“In the hurly-burly of local politics, when people are accusing me of doing things for example, which happens quite a lot, you’ve got to stay focused on what’s important.”
The former Brisbane Bears AFL player has just negotiated another three-year contract, despite resistance from some powerful characters at Evandale.
He was further criticised when it was revealed he’s paid more than $600,000 a year.
“I’m not at all concerned, and never really have been, about the white noise about me and my contract and my future and all that speculation and stuff they direct at me,” Mr Dickson said.
“If you do the job well, and the results speak for themselves, all the rest will just take care of itself.
“I get the opportunity to make a direct contribution to making the right stuff happen – it’s a very big responsibility but one I enjoy.”
Mr Dickson has a checklist of key projects he’d like to finish in the next three years – light rail stage three, more progress on the cultural precinct, and the creation of major sport and leisure hubs at Coomera and Pimpama.
“On a personal level I’m not thinking beyond three years, but on a professional level I absolutely am thinking five years, 10 years ahead, of the stuff that we need to do,” Mr Dickson said.
“That’s why we’ve been able to do what we’ve done, it’s why we were able to get the light rail started, by people in the organisation over a long period of time.
“The results speak for themselves, no matter the criticisms and the allegations or innuendo that might be directed at me as an individual.”
The city boss is listed at number eight on this year’s Gold Coast Power 100 list – and he has some thoughts on who is the city’s most powerful person.
“Define power – is it the person or their position?” he said.
“I think Tom (Tate), by virtue of position – and by power both real and perceived.
“Personality expands the perception – and that’s in no way a criticism.”