Plant Operator Level 2

About the role:

• Operate a broad range of Council plant and heavy vehicles (including excavator, backhoe, grader, loader, tracked loader, jetpatcher, dog trailer, plant trailer (over 10T), low loader, crane truck and franna).
• Support maintenance and civil construction activities across Tweed Shire, with flexibility to operate additional civil plant and machinery as required.
• Undertake daily operation checks and maintenance to keep plant and associated equipment in a safe, serviceable condition and optimise output.
• Work safely and efficiently in line with Council safe work procedures, State licence requirements and traffic laws.
• Communicate effectively with Supervisors and work cooperatively with other work gangs; work unsupervised and complete non-driving duties when plant is idle or under repair.

What's on offer:

• a base salary ranging from $59,040 per annum with competency-based increments up to $67,436 per annum, plus 12% super
• 76 hour, 9 day fortnight
• training and development opportunities
• flexible work options for a healthy work/life balance
• generous employment conditions (we have too many to list - click here for more).

We are seeking:

• Literacy and numeracy skills to read job instructions, operation/maintenance manuals and complete work records.
• Demonstrated competency operating civil plant (excavator, backhoe, grader, loader), including understanding grades, levels and cross falls to meet design levels and standard specifications.
• Cranes capability (crane truck, franna) with a current HR licence and National High Risk Work Licence, including knowledge of load shifting regulations and the ability to assess material weights.
• Heavy transport and jetpatcher experience: HR/HC licence for dog trailer/low loader, sound knowledge of regulations for conveying heavy/wide loads and understanding of bitumen sealing techniques and application rates to meet specifications.
• Strong plant maintenance and cleaning practices, clear communication and teamwork skills, ability to maintain accurate daily records (run sheets, safety checks, timesheets) and a current General Construction Induction Card (White Card).

About us:

• Located on the picturesque far North Coast of NSW, bordering the Gold Coast.
• The Tweed is a vibrant, diverse location offering a lifestyle near the water, in a rainforest or on a farm.  
• Tweed Shire Council is committed to employment equity and diversity and encourages applications from people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds in both traditional and non-traditional roles.  We provide workplace adjustments for people with disability, and access to flexible work options. 
• Join an employer of choice. Professionals Australia (Local Government Engineers’ Association) has named Council the 2021 and 2025 Employer of Choice for our great employment practices within NSW local government. 

Where it's located:

This position is based in Murwillumbah and can be directed to work from any Council work site.

Position closes: 

Friday 22 May 2026 at 12 noon sharp (NSW time).  Late applications will not be permitted.

Click here to view the Position Description 

TIPS for Addressing the Selection Criteria

Click here for more information on the Recruitment Process

Click here to view our Values

Pre-Employment Screening:

Tweed Shire Council conducts pre-employment assessments as part of its recruitment process. 

Job offers are not made until screening has been completed. Tweed Shire Council uses third-party providers to undertake:

• Pre-employment medical – some roles require a functional (physical) assessment, and all positions are subject to drug and alcohol screening (a positive test result means the recruitment process ends and your application will not be considered).
• Background screening - verifies that the information you have provided throughout the recruitment process is true and correct.  Click here for more information.

Reference Checks are undertaken by the panel. Your 2 referees should ideally be your current and most recent supervisors.  Your referees are not contacted unless you’ve been interviewed and are a preferred candidate.

Immunisations:

This position is identified as at risk of contracting vaccine-preventable/manageable diseases and as a consequence impacted employees are strongly recommended to participate in Council’s workplace vaccination program. 

How To Apply:

You must use your own email address, and not one used previously by another person that has applied for a position with council.

Once you start your online application, you cannot save and return to it later. 

• Have your Resume document ready to go.
• Fill out all questions below. Click 'Next'. 
• You'll then be prompted to attach your resume and other documents (if applicable). Click 'Next'.
• Review your application to confirm everything is correct. Click 'Confirm' to submit your application.

If you'd like to COPY and PASTE question fields into a separate Word document to work on over time, please find them listed below:

Selection Criteria:

• Why are you interested in working at Tweed Shire Council and what excites you most about this particular opportunity?
• Describe your literacy and numeracy skills, including examples of how you read and interpret job instructions/manuals and complete work records.
• What experience do you have operating civil plant (excavator, backhoe, grader, loader) and how do you ensure grades, levels and cross falls meet design levels and standard specifications?
• Please outline your experience operating a crane truck/franna, including knowledge of load shifting regulations and assessing material weights.
• Tell us about a time you applied strong plant maintenance/cleaning practices, communicated effectively and worked as part of a team to ensure accurate daily records (run sheets, safety checks and timesheets).
• Do you hold a current General Construction Induction Card (White Card), HR licence, HC licence and National High Risk Work Licence? Select all that apply.

SK97188A

OFFICE USE ONLY