Councillor Harrison, who was first elected as a north ward councillor in 2008, before becoming mayor in 2012, will not be contesting next month’s election – as per new legislation that prevents state MPs from serving as councillors.

Ahead of the meeting, the Charlestown MP said she was proud of her time in the political nursery of local council.

“It’s bitter-sweet at the moment,” Cr Harrison told the Newcastle Herald​.

“It’s certainly very sad to leave my role as mayor of the City of Lake Macquarie, but I’ll still be around representing people in Charlestown. I’ll miss the kind of council this has been.” 

The former union organiser had kind words for fellow councillors, even those of a different political stripe, declaring: “There’s no cut and thrust on Lake Macquarie council. We quietly get things done.”

And among the things the councillors got done on Monday was adopting a new sports facility strategy.

The strategy aims to guide the development of sports facilities across the city over the next five years.

It includes a works schedule for upgrades to existing facilities and provision of future sports facilities across the city.

It can be viewed on council’s website.

Councillors then approved one-off sponsorship funding, totalling $26,730, for the Redhead Beach Bash, Lake Macquarie Squash Open, Port to Port mountain bike event, and Opera Hunter’s production of Don Giovanni.

Councillors also authorised $36,410 from the Community Funding program, and $1666 from the Lake Macquarie Games program, for events including.-