He said his goal in the top job was for Wangaratta to become a place where children could get all the opportunities they wanted, and then stay in the city for life.

"Over the past three years, our council has set out to change the perception of Wangaratta to a place that is welcoming and ready to face the challenges of the future," he said at the council meeting at Oxley.

Two of the significant events Cr Rees mentioned coming up in the next year were the opening of the organics processing plant, which he said was an answer to Victoria's "recycling crisis", and the return of the jazz festival he promised would be "bigger and better than ever".

IN OTHER NEWS:

Dave Fuller was elected as the city's new deputy mayor, following a tight vote where three councillors were nominated.

The vote was tied 3-3 between Cr Fuller and former deputy mayor Mark Currie, with Harry Bussell the only one to vote for himself. Cr Bussell recast his vote for Cr Fuller to be the tie breaker.

"I thank those who voted for me and instilled their trust in me - I consider that trust an honour," Cr Fuller said.

He said he hoped to develop his leadership skills in the role.

Cr Currie, who had the support of councillors Rees and Ashlee Fitzpatrick, had said he wanted to continue leading from the front in the deputy mayor role with his business skills, holding people accountable.

Cr Bussell described himself as a team player and argued he would be like Robin Hood, taking money from the city and "giving it to the poor country people".