Rising star leading Renmark Paringa’s rebuild after floods

When the 2022–23 River Murray floods hit the Riverland, Shannon Baxter found herself at the centre of one of the region’s most significant emergency responses in decades.

Her days quickly became filled with high-level emergency meetings, coordination of internal communications, managing contractor documentation and everything in between – which led to her becoming affectionately known as Renmark Paringa Council’s “intelligence officer”.

Officially, Shannon’s position title at the council is Manager Infrastructure Services. And during the flood crisis, her role certainly wasn’t confined to desk work.

“One day I’d be doing admin, the next I’d be driving a side-by-side vehicle around the levees,” Shannon recalls.

“I like being organised and helping people get organised – but I’ve always been someone who’s keen to put the boots on and get out in the field. You wear many hats working at a regional council.”

Shannon knows this all too well.

In August, she celebrated her 10-year work anniversary at Renmark Paringa Council, during which time she’s enjoyed significant career growth after starting out as an executive assistant and gradually stepping into the asset and infrastructure space.

“I would never have thought someone with my background – business management and HR – would end up managing infrastructure services,” Shannon says.

“But that’s what I love about working in local government. If you’re willing to give everything a go, the opportunities are endless.”

When the flood waters subsided, the Renmark Paringa Council and community was left to count the significant cost and the initial emergency response phase quickly turned towards recovery.

One of the major projects Shannon was tasked to lead was the $6.6 million reconstruction of the TwentyFirst Street Bridge, which is one of four vital links in and out of the Renmark township for residents, growers, emergency services and freight operators.

Built in the 1960s and originally limited to 10-tonne vehicles, the bridge was already earmarked for minor repairs when the floodwaters struck.

“The bridge acted like a weir,” Shannon says. “There was severe structural damage. At one point, engineers told us not to drive or even walk across it.”

Shannon led the bridge assessment and options analysis, working with staff, elected members and consultants to decide on a practical, future-proof design that could withstand future floods – and bring the concept to life.

“It was a really small internal team – just three of us managing not only the bridge, but the rest of our capital program,” Shannon recalls. “But we knew our strengths, and we just played to them.”

The bridge reconstruction was delivered $1.3 million under budget – and in record time – with more than $1 million worth of work delivered by local businesses.

“Injecting that money back into the local economy after such a tough time was a huge win,” Shannon says. “As a council, we don’t build bridges every day – neither do the councils adjacent to us – so the experience for our local contractors has been incredible.”

The TwentyFirst Street Bridge project forms part of a much wider $21 million capital works program Shannon has helped deliver at Renmark Paringa Council over the past 18 months.

Works have included a $10.6 million wharf redevelopment, open space upgrades in the Renmark and Paringa town centres, and a $4.4 million wastewater treatment plant upgrade to boost sustainability and reduce reliance on the River Murray.

It’s a significant undertaking, given the council’s typical capital works program is around a fifth of that budget.

“Just being exposed to so much and gaining such a breadth of experience through these projects has been a once-in-a-career kind of opportunity. I don’t think I’ll have the chance  to build all those things again – but you never say never,” Shannon says.

“At the same time, it’s incredibly rewarding to walk down the street and think, ‘I had a hand in that’.

“There’s that personal connection, and with it comes a strong sense of accountability. The community expects a lot from us – and they don’t hold back on feedback. But that’s part of the job, and something we wear with pride.”

For anyone considering pursuing a career in local government – whether fresh out of school, university or simply wanting a change – Shannon’s message is simple.

“I’d tell anyone – don’t discount your local council,” she says. “You might start at a small regional council and later move to a metro one – or you might find, like I did, that there’s so much scope to grow where you are.

“If you're willing to give things a go, jump in and have a crack, you'd be surprised where it can take you. The opportunities are endless.”