Mr Swift-McNair was due to end his tenure on July 1, but that was brought forward to June 23.

The GM resigned his position to take up a similar role with Woolahra Council in Sydney's eastern suburbs.

In an email to key community leaders of the newly formed COVID Recovery Working Group Mr Swift-McNair said he was fortunate to work with dedicated people.

"Just a quick note to let you know that there has been a slight change of plans with my finish date at council," he wrote in the email.

"Originally I was due to leave on July 1 2020, however there has been a slight change of plans and today (Tuesday June 23) is in fact my last official day in the role of general manager at Port Macquarie-Hastings Council.

"I will be taking annual leave from tomorrow (Tuesday June 23) to June 30 2020 inclusive.

"Thanks to everyone for your kind words following notification of my resignation a few weeks ago.

"I have been very fortunate to work in a community with such dedicated people working for the betterment of other people's lives.

"Thanks once more for the tireless work you are putting in with regard to our pandemic recovery."

Mr Swift-McNair said he was confident the final priorities and plan will be very reflective of what we need from a whole-of-community perspective.

The process of developing our recovery plan will indeed continue once I have left the building, he added.

"The council report for July 15 is well underway and the work everyone is doing now with the prioritisation of actions, projects and initiatives will indeed be the last (but by no means least) piece of information that is fed into the report.

"Once again thanks for all your support of this process and I am sure I will see some of you around town in the coming few weeks," he said.

Council voted on June 17 to appoint director of strategy and growth Jeffery Sharp as acting general manager.

At the time of announcing his resignation on June 4, Mr Swift-McNair said he had enjoyed his time at the council.

"I have obviously not taken this decision lightly, however having been the general manager of a large and successful regional council, I was keen to further my local government career in a metropolitan council, hence my decision to apply for the general manager role at Woollahra," Mr Swift-McNair said.

"Clearly the timing is not all that great, when you consider the pandemic recovery work we have all been working on, but that was a little out of my control.

"I have certainly enjoyed my time at PMHC, which dates back to 2003 and I have appreciated the opportunities the organisation and local government in general have provided me with over the years."

Mr Swift-McNair signed a new four year contract as general manager earlier this year.

That contract was to take his position as GM through until March 2024 with a remuneration package totalling $350,487.

Mr Swift-McNair's review recorded a high level of satisfaction with his performance.

The recommendation to renew the general manager's contract was supported by all councillors except for Cr Sharon Griffiths and mayor Peta Pinson.

Craig Swift-McNair was named Port Macquarie-Hastings Council's new general manager in 2014.

His appointment followed the dismissal of former general manager Tony Hayward - a decision made after a unanimous vote of the then council.

Mr Swift-McNair returned to Port Macquarie-Hastings Council as the corporate and business services director in early 2012 after a two-year stint at Greater Taree City Council.

He had earlier worked at Port Macquarie-Hastings Council as manager of business services.

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