After considering his future for the past two months, the former policeman announced on Friday he felt the time was right for a change after being elected to council in 2012.

"I think you need to leave when you know it's the right time to leave and that time is now," Cr Mack said.

"I've spoken to a lot of former mayors and had a lot of discussions with people over the past couple of months.

"I've missed nine years of my kids' lives and given up a lot with my previous career.

"I don't die wondering.

"I've said it many times in different media forums that you can sit on the bus but I'd rather be driving the bus.

"Being a mayor for seven years has been a real privilege.

"I've enjoyed every minute of it but couldn't have done it without the support of my wife, Jill, and family."

Cr Mack was mayor from 2013 to 2015 and has been in the top job the entire period of this term which was extended by a year because of the COVID outbreak.

Only John Roach (1977 to 1989) and Cleaver Bunton (1946-1960) and (1961-1972) have had longer unbroken runs leading Albury since it became a city in 1946.

Despite standing as an independent candidate for Farrer in the 2019 federal election, Cr Mack said he had no interest in taking a second shot at politics.

He hopes to be remembered as a "fair leader".

"I didn't join council because I had an agenda, I joined because I sat on two community boards previous to that and I presented a different workshop to that councillor group," he said.

"I saw the calamity that was going on in the chamber.

"I thought Albury deserved better than that

"To be fair, I think Albury has had better than that for the past nine years.

"You are going to have disagreements because it's a democracy.

"I've tried to be fair."

Cr Mack conceded he had been through ups and downs during his time as mayor but believes he leaves the position with Albury in a strong position for the future.

He regarded the strengthening of the relationship between Albury and Wodonga as one of his biggest achievements.

"When I first joined as a Victorian policeman and Albury resident I took it upon myself to try and understand why the two cities weren't working better together," he said.

"A lot of that was meted out in the media which wasn't a forum piece, it was what was happening.

"When I sat at the big table I realised it was really happening and you shouldn't have to compete for business and be competitive in a market where 50 per cent of our people work on either side of the river.

"I tried on a number of occasions to introduce Wodonga into discussions with joint meetings.

"I remember when I first raised it at a workshop a certain Albury councillor said to me: 'Who do you think you are, Kofi Annan?'

"I'm going, does he play soccer?

"Her response was 'No'

"I said 'Oh, that's the United Nations guy'.

"I didn't think that at all, I just thought persistence was the key and the information and evidence is there that the two cities should be one community.

"I kept pushing on and pushing on and persistence paid off.

"I think it will continue.

"It makes sense to bring two governments to the table and then fund individual pieces of infrastructure.

"It's cheaper for them and it benefits our community.

"We share a wonderful regional waste facility, we are sharing tourism collateral, we are sharing digital collateral.

"It will take five to 10 years for staff to get their head around it but now staff are meeting regularly on both sides of the river."

Cr Mack said he was proud of the NEXUS industrial hub at Ettamogah and predicted big things for the $19.6 million redeveloped Lavington Sports Ground.

Council came under heavy fire following a $3.2 million cost blowout for major excavation works and replacement soil.

An investigation was carried out into why initial geo-technical examinations by external consultants didn't identify soil as unsuitable for the base of the secondary oval.

"Love it or hate it, Lavington is amazing," Cr Mack said.

"The Lavington football ground, which was purchased before I got onto council, needed to be fixed.

"The Panthers had spent no money on it for 10 years.

"The premier regional sports stadium in Australia was a run down concrete shell.

"We had to spend money.

"It's had its ups and downs and I don't shirk away from that.

"I don't think anyone would now say that it wasn't worth it."

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Cr Mack said COVID had been a major setback in attracting major events with the facility recently being overlooked for a Big Bash League match.

It is also believed Cricket Australia wanted to see first-class cricket played at the ground before putting the ground under the national spotlight.

"Once COVID passes, Lavington will come into its own like it did in the 80s" he said.

"We will sign agreements with the major codes in the next two to three years.

"In saying that though, instead of fighting for major events, let's get carnivals where parents spend a lot of money taking their kids to.

"We need to localise the opportunities and showcase our city."

Cr Mack said one of his biggest regrets was the change of control at Albury public pools with Richmond football club company Aligned Leisure upsetting swimmers and water polo players in its approach to operations.

"I had too much faith in reports and regret not being more analytical of the report," he said.

"The Aligned Leisure stuff wasn't entirely clear to us at the time and I think the user groups had reason to be concerned.

"I said that, but it opened Pandora's box so then you are defending the indefensible line.

"Because you have said it, you want to keep saying it but at some point you have to say you got it wrong which we did.

"At the time when the heat is on you want to believe your staff, and I always support the staff 100 per cent, but sometimes you have to interrogate them.

"That was a difficult time in my and my family's life.

"It was unfortunate but I think Aligned Leisure is doing a great job now.

"It just took a huge toll on a lot of people at the time."

Cr Mack said Albury council's decision to block Melbourne Storm training at venues it manages during COVID had also taken a personal toll.

The 5-4 vote went against a staff recommendation to allow the club to use Greenfield Park.

The club later practised at Albury Sportsground.

"The Melbourne Storm decision knocked me for six," he said.

"To turn them away and plan B was the Albury Sportsground, it was a kick in the guts for the community.

"We had been trying to get them here for five years, and I was hurt by it.

"It was a group decision and I represented the decision."

While Cr Mack admitted he had made some slip-ups in the media along his journey, he believes his forthrightness had helped during the cross-border COVID lockdown.

"Sometimes I put my foot in it but that comes with the territory," he said.

"I get caught off guard sometimes and I say what I'm thinking.

"I'm not a political animal in that context.

"During COVID I think it's been a huge benefit to this community and regional Australia because I've spoken my mind.

"I've had numerous emails from all around the country from people who have said I'm the only one they will listen to because I'm making sense.

"That's not ego, that's who I am,

"My brother Ray doesn't miss anyone either.

"Ninety-five per cent of the time it's been fine, it's just that 5 per cent I think if I could take it back I would but it's out of the bag and it's your job (the media) to report what you hear."

Cr Mack said he had high hopes for the Murray River precinct after the council listened to the community a decade ago and believes the sky's the limit for development in the next three years.

He is excited about the tickets running for election in September.

"The next council is set up for success.

"There are a lot of women representatives on tickets as well as youth.

"Fifty per cent of the new tickets are women which is fantastic,

"I'm not sure if they have looked up to Amanda (Cohn) or not but it's very exciting.

"I think it brings a different texture to the decision making."

Cr Mack, who unsuccessfully stood against Farrer MP Sussan Ley, said returning to politics wasn't a consideration.

"I'll still keep a hand in community stuff and community boards and spend a bit of time finding a job," he said.

"I'll see what happens next.

"I've got no interest at all in politics, I've been down that path before and there is only so much fuel in the tank.

"I'll look at a community-related business.

"I hope the community understands it's not about leaving because you have unfinished business, I'm leaving because I think the job is done.

"I think someone else can step up and do it just as well."

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