Ganger (Leading Hand) - Wastewater Services

Requisition Number: 762

Salary Range: Total Potential Earnings: Approx. $84,000+ p.a.

Includes base salary of $61,189, guaranteed allowances, plus ~$18.5K Live Sewer allowance. On-call and overtime available for extra earnings. EBA renewal means a pay rise is coming!

Position Type: Full-Time Permanent 

Location: MacNamara Street, Cairns

Application Close Date: Sunday, 24 August 2025 at 11.30pm AEST

Looking for a hands-on role where you can make a real impact in your community every day? We have several exciting opportunities to join our team and help keep operations running smoothly!

You will support a small crew in the delivery of safe, efficient, and customer-focused maintenance of Council’s sewer reticulation network. You’ll play a hands-on role in daily operations while responding to customer enquiries and ensuring assets are maintained to a high standard. You'll also provide valuable input to the Team Leader on any repairs or improvements needed across the network.

What You’ll Do:

• Lead and motivate a small team, fostering a culture of safety.
• Repair sewer reticulation blockages and lateral connection (jump up) blockages
• Maintain high pressure sewer cleaning trucks and equipment to ensure efficient operation.
• Install sewer extensions or lateral connections as required. 
• Inspect / Investigate and record manhole asset integrity for follow up repairs as required.
• Perform Reactive high pressure flushing of sewer main blockages as required. 
• Perform surveys of reticulation systems to identify illegal storm water and groundwater inflow.
• Operate in conjunction with the vacuum tanker crew to remove silt and sand from sewer lines.

What We’re Looking For:

• A current HR licence or the ability to obtain
• Construction White Card
• Current confined space accreditation and/or ability and willingness to gain accreditation
• Previous experience in the maintenance of wastewater reticulation assets or experience in a trade or civil construction background
• Physically fit and willing to work in outdoor environments (you will be required to pass a pre-employment medical)
• Effective communication skills with the ability to work well within a team

No prior wastewater industry experience? No worries! If you have transferable skills from construction or related fields, we’ll provide wastewater-specific training to the right candidate!

What’s In It For You?

⚡ Enterprise Bargaining Agreement (EBA) currently under negotiation—a pay rise is in the pipeline.

💰 Approximately an additional $18.5K per annum - Live Sewer Allowance, paid at time and a half.

🌤 Monday to Friday work with regular participation in an afterhours on-call roster

🕘 Flexible work arrangements including a 9-day fortnight

🌴 Generous leave entitlements: up to 5 weeks annual leave and 3 weeks personal leave

💉 3 hours paid time annually for your health checks

📍 Stable, locally based work in beautiful Cairns

👕 Uniforms provided

🏊‍♂️ Fitness Passport—subsidised access to gyms, pools, and wellness facilities

💰 Secure your future with up to 12% superannuation contribution

📈 Career progression opportunities – Team Leader

🛠️ A strong culture of safe work practices and a firm commitment to workplace safety

We are committed to:

• Fostering a collaborative and inclusive work environment
• Embracing innovation and continuous improvement
• Cultivating a culture of professional growth and support

Now we want to hear about YOU!

Applications MUST be submitted online through the 'Apply' button and include a Cover Letter addressing the selection criteria and Resume outlining previous academic and work experience and if requested include attachments of the relevant qualifications and licenses, relating to the role.

For further information about this role please download the Position Description which includes the Key Duties, Responsibilities and Selection Criteria.

Council’s Recruitment Team can be contacted via:

Phone: (07) 4044 3310

Email: jobs@cairns.qld.gov.au

Website: Employment at Council | Cairns Regional Council