Long term independent councillor Wendy Harrison has confirmed she will not be contesting the upcoming Lake Macquarie council election.
Cr Harrison has served four terms on council and said she felt it was her "time to leave".
"I've had a 17-year run, which is probably longer than I expected to go," she said.
"I feel it is time for me to move on for a number of reasons. It's time to smell the roses as they say."
Cr Harrison has served as Deputy Mayor of Lake Macquarie four times and also ran for mayor in 2012.
Having topped the polls in her ward at the 2016 election, Cr Harrison's vacation will open the door in the west, which is currently served by Labor's David Belcher, Liberal's Jason Pauling and Lake Mac Independents' Luke Cubis.
