RETIRING Corangamite Shire mayor Neil Trotter says the next crop of councillors will face formidable challenges but the council is well placed to help the community recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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The council's annual report was released on Tuesday night which showed it remained debt free.
The report showed $14.3 million had been invested in the capital works program with $8.4 million spent upgrading roads in the shire.
The council also delivered a $4.8 million stimulus package in the 2020-21 budget for COVID recovery.
Tuesday's meeting was the final time retiring councillors Helen Durant, Lesley Brown, Simon Illingworth and Cr Trotter represented Corangamite.
Cr Trotter said despite the councillors being a diverse group of individuals they had managed to operate in the best interests of their constituents for the majority of the time.
"This is mainly due to having respect for the democratic process and for each other as individuals," he said.
"Despite the current impact of the coronavirus and the consequences that may follow I'm optimistic about the future of the shire."
He said it had a great capacity to recover and find a way forward.
"There will be formidable challenges facing the new council," he said.
"The tourism industry has been severely impacted and is facing a prolonged period of recovery. Unemployment levels have increased dramatically in a short period of time and this is particularly concerning for females and our youth. Social disadvantage is magnified and our social support networks are facing increased demand.
"It is vital that we do not allow fear and self interest to prevent us from moving forward or to care for those who have been adversely affected as a result of this virus."
Cr Trotter said councillors needed to have the ability to listen to their community members and hear their complaints.
"I think the ability to listen and to have some empathy for the community you're serving is a really good quality."
Cr Durant highlighted the work councillors did that wasn't the "big ticket items" but which she said were as important.
"Supporting and representing residents who needed to get things done and things changed, whether it be a footpath, a street light or a disabled car park," she said.
"I am pleased to have been part of a council that has not been driven by personal gain or popularity and one that has consciously strived to adopt and act on strong principles of good governance."
Cr Brown said the dynamics in their first year had brought some challenges but she "had made it."
"I would like to thank my fellow councillors and officers for their support during this time as I doubt I would have made it through without it," she said.
She said she was proud of various projects over the past four years, particularly the painting of the Lismore water tower.
Cr Illingworth said during his time on council he had come to the realisation the natural environment needed to be protected.
"I think one of the things I've learnt as a councillor and listening to the people is the capacity to change and I certainly didn't come onto council as some sort of environmental guru," he said.
"For me the realisation that we need to protect our environment, it's the key to our fishing industry, tourism, farming and has a great impact on numerous things in our shire that we probably take for granted at times."
