It comes after ungrouped candidate Alan Brown fared poorly in the first preference vote, ending an eight-year run as Wagga councillor.

Greens candidate Mr Poynter was within striking distance of re-election after first preferences, but was swamped by fellow incumbents Greg Conkey and Yvonne Braid when preferences were assigned. 

Ex-councillor Mr Brown described his first four years in chambers as “totally frustrating”, compared to the last four years, which were “truly spectacular”. 

“We designed and secured funding for the levee bank upgrade,” Mr Brown said.

“We installed CCTV in the city, which was a step forward in safety and the perception of the city as a safe place to live.

“Wagga’s economy already has education, medicine, defence and agriculture, the next step forward is heavy industry.

“We did everything possible to facilitate Bomen as a major industrial centre to serve the entire region; new roads that will open up to heavy transport and act as a northern bypass, and the groundwork for a rail intermodal freight hub.”

Mr Brown hopes the next council continues with plans to build a nine-hectare emergency services precinct on the corner of the Olympic Highway and Coolamon Road near the fast-growing suburb of Boorooma.  

Former Greens councillor Mr Poynter said the last council could be proud of its courage under fire.

“The term before set up the Douglas Aerospace deal and we had to resolve it under enormous amounts of pressure,” Mr Poynter said. 

“It was not a situation I think council should have been in, but rather than fall apart at the seams, the council was focused on the best outcome for the community.”

Mr Poynter tipped two impending reports – Integrated Transport Study and the floodplain management study – would define the first chapter of the next council.

Mr Poynter also warned councillors not to lose crucial staff in the ongoing restructure. Finally, the Green implored new candidates to stick to their guns and increase council transparency “so processes are accessible and understandable for the community”.