After nine terms of Peter Petty as mayor, Tenterfield can herald in a new era with Bronwyn Petrie elected into the top seat.
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Going up against former deputy mayor Greg Sauer, Cr Petrie came out victorious, voted in by Tenterfield's newest batch of councillors.
"I'm very grateful for the support of the community and from my fellow councillors," she told the Star.
"We have some very exciting opportunities coming our way as well as serious challenges to face as a community and as a council."
Councillor John Macnish will serve as her new deputy.
Cr Petrie decided to put her hand up for mayor after being approached by both members of the community and some fellow councillors suggesting she run.
"As my Dad always said, you have to stand up and be counted," she laughed.
"My thanks to outgoing mayor Peter Petty and deputy mayor Greg Sauer for their work and their contributions over their terms."
Councillor Petty was re-elected Tenterfield mayor for the ninth consecutive year in September 2020, and this change at the top may signify change in the air.
"Our sustainability is our key challenge - that is, we need to ensure our council and community are economically sustainable," she said.
"Later this year the Tenterfield heavy vehicle bypass will be a challenge, and that is both a threat and opportunity - so as council and as a community, we need to work together to explore and adopt strategies to ensure the viability of our town and shire."
Another immediate issue facing council is to find and elect new councillors to fill two vacancies, taking them back to their full strength.
A shorter term of just two years and nine months - following the postponement of local government elections due to Covid - she suggested now might be the perfect time for newbies to try their hand.
"You need to be community focused, you don't do it for financial reward - we are not like Queensland who get paid full wages - so you have to be dedicated and try to achieve good outcomes for our shire and our town and villages".
Also on her hit list of issues to fix: handing back over 15,000 kms of Bruxner and Lindesay roads to the State Government; and - with around 30 per cent of the Shire classified as public land - a way to increase the shire's rate base.
"One of our biggies: we really want to provide people with the services, the assets, and the livability that people want to have to attract them to stay here and to move here."
