The Ward 3 councillor has accepted a position as the principal of Tamworth Public – a 900-pupil school he says offers opportunities he can’t get in the Illawarra.

But he will stay on as a councillor in Wollongong – over 500 kilometres from his new home – after being reelected to his role in September.

“I will be at the end of an email or phone call, and I will receive all the briefings and everything else the councillors receive,” he said.

“I’ve got projects and things I’m overseeing – this is a short three-year term and I am going to make sure the interests of my ward and going to be represented.”

Cr Connor said he did not have plans to move away when he was campaigning to be elected.

“It was one of those out-of-the-blue opportunities,” he said. “And it was done in full knowledge that I would continue being a councillor.”

Cr Connor noted the NSW Local Government Act allowed councillors to live out of area as long as they adhered to meeting requirements and fulfilled their duties.

“I’ll be attending meetings and events and I still want to actively represent this area,” he said.

“Qantas and Virgin fly daily to Tamworth.

“And while I’m working in Tamworth, I will still have my home Dapto.”