Muswellbrook mayor Martin Rush will step down after 12 years to return to his former career as a barrister.
Mr Rush who led the council during a period of unprecedented social and economic change in the Upper Hunter said he would transition his responsibilities to deputy mayor Rod Scholes over the next three months.
"I intended to retire from council after returning from overseas twelve months ago but given the COVID-19 pandemic and the possibility that things might have turned for the worse, I have been pleased to continue for an additional twelve months," he said.
"Thank you also to my colleagues, the community's councillors, and the community for their enormous support over the last 12 and a half years."
He said he was proud of the council and community's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"I want to particularly thank the area health service and council's general manager and staff officers for the extraordinary but quiet work that ensured our community was prepared for all eventualities. I am confident we are through the worst of it and that it is now appropriate for council to commence a transition to new leadership," Mr Rush said.
He told the Newcastle Herald in late 2020 that planning and collaboration between industry, government and the community would be essential if the Upper Hunter was to successfully transition to a low carbon future.
"The thermal coal industry has between 20 and 30 years in our estimate. That is not a long time to manage a structural transition in a community that produces 12 per cent of globally traded thermal coal," he said.
"There are no examples of a successful transition of coal mining communities globally.
"But we know from successful transitions in other industries that planning and collaboration are two essential ingredients."
Mr Rush contested the state seat of Upper Hunter for the Labor Party against the The Nationals' Michael Johnsen in 2015.
Although he didn't win, a strong campaign saw him reduce the margin in one of the Nationals' strongest seats to just over 2 per cent.
He ran again in the March 2019 election, however, he withdrew in January 2019 after a series of anonymous and unproven allegations were made against him.
He said at the time: "Politics should not be about weighing the other side down in smear but about genuine conversations about improving policy, building things, and improving people's lives.
Mr Rush follows Wayne Bedggood who resigned as Upper Hunter Shire mayor in June 2020.
For faster access to the latest Newcastle news download our NEWCASTLE HERALD APP and sign up for breaking news, sport and what's on sent directly to your email.
