Mr Farmer resigned in December and will start his new role as chief executive of Ipswich City Council, in south-east Queensland, from Monday.

The local government veteran – who has held the city’s top job for 11 years – attended his final council meeting on Tuesday night, with his resignation to take effect from Friday.

Tuesday night’s meeting also saw councillors vote behind closed doors to appoint Greg Doyle as acting general manager until the vacant GM position is filled.

Mr Doyle is the council’s director of infrastructure and works.

Read more: Crown Street Mall cop attack ‘vicious’, court hears

Earlier, in the meeting’s public session, lord mayor Gordon Bradbery acknowledged the significant contribution Mr Farmer had made during his 11.5-year tenure.

“In that time, he has been responsible for council meeting its statutory responsibilities and delivering the actions set out in council’s strategic planning documents,” Cr Bradbery said.

“Under his leadership, the council has achieved recurrent budget improvements whilst maintaining and improving services provided to the community.”

Councillor David Brown also used the meeting to thank the outgoing GM for his service to the city.

“When David first got here, the city’s big debate was about our identity as a city – did we see ourselves as a city, what would that look like [and] how would we get there,” Cr Brown said.

“Now, I think those big-picture problems have largely been filled in; I think that sort of debate is over and there’s been a changing of the city in the time that David’s been here.

“The council’s future, in my view, looks bright – our finances are good and, more importantly, I think our governance models are good.

“I wish David and his family well in his new gig.

“As we all know, Wollongong is in some ways a big pigeon loft – people often leave, but many come back. So I’d be not surprised if David did surface sometime … in some future chapter of his life.

Read more: ‘You f—king idiot’ – Irate driver who filmed cyclist tirade hands himself him in to police

“I guess as we all know, one parable, the saying of the last council was ‘the early bird gets shot’ – but there will always be some spare birdseed for our favourite high flyers.”

Meanwhile, councillors voted on Tuesday night to establish a recruitment and selection committee, which will oversee the appointment of a new GM.

The committee will be made up of Cr Bradbery and Cr Brown, as well as councillors Tania Brown, Leigh Colacino and Mithra Cox.

All 13 councillors will be given the chance to meet the shortlisted candidates and give feedback, before a recommended candidate is brought to the council for final approval.