The city’s top manager on Wednesday said she would be living at Marmande, near Bordeaux, from the second week in January.

“In my position I’ve often got approached and got offers and it’s always been a goal to live and work overseas,” Ms Harrington said.

Her job will involve consultancy work in the community and economic development sphere that will see her travel across Europe.

Ms Harrington said she had had a home in France for the past three years and had made her decision to leave Wodonga Council “in the last few weeks”.

Reflecting on her period at the helm of the council, Ms Harrington said “it’s been an amazing transformation in the seven years” before adding “I’m not saying that’s all me”.

Asked to cite legacies, she named the Elmwood housing estate, Baranduda-Leneva Valley progress and master plans for the city’s hills and Gateway Island.

Ms Harrington’s term has not been trouble-free with her plagiarising a report on a trip to South Korea and overseeing overcharging of ratepayers by $18 milion with waste fees.

Asked on Wednesday if she had any regrets, Ms Harrington replied “no I don’t” before adding “there are things that I think I may have done differently but I don’t have any regrets”.

Councillor and ex-mayor John Watson said he was “very sad to see” Ms Harrington depart. 

He nominated her ability with council staff and expansion of the Logic industrial hub with new businesses as her greatest achievements.

Ms Harrington’s last day will be before Christmas.