Bellingen Shire Council is seeking a skilled and committed Water and Wastewater Fieldwork Operator to help maintain and repair vital water and wastewater infrastructure. This is a hands-on role that plays an important part in delivering reliable services to our community.
About Us
Working with us means more than just a job – it’s an opportunity to make a real difference at a local level. We’re a small but impactful council known for innovation, collaboration, and community connection. With around 160 dedicated employees, our team is passionate about delivering services that support the people and places that make our shire special.
Bellingen Shire is a picturesque and diverse area located on the Mid North Coast of NSW, halfway between Sydney and Brisbane and just south of Coffs Harbour. Covering 1,605 square kilometres with around 10km of coastline, the region is renowned for its stunning natural beauty – from lush rainforests and pristine rivers to the World Heritage-listed Dorrigo National Park. Our towns and villages are known for their charm, creativity and strong community spirit.
Living and working here offers the perfect blend of lifestyle and purpose. With a focus on sustainability, cultural richness, and a warm, welcoming community, Bellingen Shire is an inspiring place to grow your career, enjoy work-life balance, and contribute to something meaningful.
The Opportunity
Reporting to the Water and Wastewater Supervisor, this role is responsible for the maintenance and repair of pumps, maintenance and upgrades to wastewater pump stations, and the construction and repair of manholes, water and wastewater mains, valves, hydrants, meters and associated services.
The ideal candidate will have experience in plumbing, pump maintenance and repair, and construction techniques. You will also be expected to provide relief support for the operators in charge of the water and wastewater treatment plants. Demonstrated experience in construction, concreting, manhole construction, pipe repairs and pipeline works is essential. A sound understanding of water and wastewater systems is required. Previous experience in the water industry, along with water and wastewater treatment certifications, will be highly regarded.
To be successful in the role, you will need to work flexibly and cooperatively within a team environment, and have sufficient literacy and numeracy skills to interpret technical manuals and successfully complete operator training courses required for the role.
This position forms part of an on-call roster, which includes after-hours, weekend and public holiday work to respond to system faults and emergency repairs.
On offer
Some of the benefits working for Bellingen Shire Council include:
- Permanent full-time role, 38 hours per week with access to fortnightly rostered day off
- Access to Fitness Passport
- Access to employee wellbeing programs
- Access to flexible work arrangements in line with Award provisions, subject to operational requirements
- Ongoing professional development opportunities
- Salary packaging options
- Annual salary of $62,118 to $71,748 (plus allowances and superannuation).
Still Have Questions?
- For further information regarding this role please contact Craig Salmon, Group Leader Water and Wastewater, on 02 6655 7300.
- For enquiries about the application process, please contact the Recruitment Team at [email protected].
Sponsorship/work rights for Australia
Please note that visa sponsorship is not available. To be eligible for a continuing role, you must be an Australian or New Zealand citizen or hold Australian permanent residency.
How to Apply
Please read the Position Description by clicking the link at the bottom of this page to gain a full understanding of the responsibilities and requirements of the role.
No candidate meets every single desired qualification or skill. If your experience looks a little different from what we have outlined but you believe you could add value to the role, we would love to learn more about you!
If this sounds like you
Applications close: Sunday, 28 June 2026 at 4pm
Important information
As part of the recruitment process, suitable candidates will be required to complete pre-employment screening which can include relevant background checks, functional capacity assessments, psychometric testing, and drug and alcohol screening (where relevant to the role). We may also review publicly available information (such as social media) and, with your consent, contact previous employers not listed on your application.
Our recruitment process is managed via system generated emails. Please ensure your email address is entered correctly to avoid missing important updates and outcomes. Notifications may include application confirmation, interview invitations, reference requests, and application outcomes. Remember to check your email regularly, including your junk/spam folder.
Bellingen Shire Council as an equal opportunity employer is committed to a merit-based workforce that encompasses inclusiveness and diversity in an environment of mutual respect. We invite, encourage, welcome and value candidates of all ages, from diverse backgrounds and cultures, and people who have lived experience of disability to apply to work with us.
Bellingen Shire Council is committed to the safety and wellbeing of children and creating and maintaining a child safe organisation.
If you require additional assistance to participate in the recruitment process, please contact the People and Culture team on 02 6655 7300 or [email protected]. You can ask for reasonable adjustments to be made at any time during the recruitment process.