4pm update:
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Northern Grampians Shire Council Mayor Kevin Erwin said ever since council appointed Mr Bailey they knew he would eventually move on due how dedicated he was.
"It was a shock at the time but it wasn't a complete surprise," he said.
"He's done a great job here. Of course, we're disappointed but we wish him well for the future.
"I believe Michael Bailey was in a five-year contract, but contracts always allow for opportunities if they arise. We will now turn our attention to the recruitment process."
Cr Erwin said despite recruitment starting straight away, there was the possibility of an interim chief executive.
"Just in the time frame there is, there might be a small period of an interim chief executive, but it's not the first time," he said.
"At this stage, we don't know who that would be but we could have to appoint someone to give us a little bit of extra time."
Cr Erwin said Mr Bailey had worked towards significant improvements around the shire.
"The tyre stockpile had been a bugbear around the region for quite some time," he said.
"There's been a significant amount of economic development happen and it's just starting to come to fruition so whoever comes into that role will have a very walk-up start.
"A lot of things are in place to happen in the next few years - it's a good time to be coming into a CEO's position.
"Finances are always a challenge in small rural shires and Michael certainly has done a great job in terms of overall finances."
During Mr Bailey's employment, Cr Erwin said he could clearly see the passion which drove the out-going chief executive.
"Michael wasn't just here filling in the role he was very passionate about the area," he said.
"He knew the area really well and loved the region. He wanted to leave his mark.
"He's done that. In saying that with a young family you have to look to the future and what that might look like for him."
3pm update:
Mr Bailey's official departure date will be September 27 but he will take leave before this date.
"There are a few things in the pipeline which I am looking into but for the meantime, I will be spending time with my girls," he said.
"It's something I have been thinking about for a little while. It's one of those things, you make decisions in life based on a lot of considerations generally and there's been a few things happen in the past six months or so where you think; where to next, or what's the next step.
"I thoroughly enjoy my time at the council and have done. The shire is in a great position with a lot of great things happening."
Mr Bailey said he was always driven and led by councillors.
"Regardless of me being involved or not, the councillors will continue to drive a huge growth area within the region," he said.
"They are very passionate about the region and they will push and push whoever is in this seat to continue to deliver and that's what you need out of a council and that's what you need out of an organisation with long-term strategic aims.
"To have that clear focus, our councillors certainly have that."
Mr Bailey said while looking back over his employment at council, it took a team to get things done.
"The tyre stockpile was a big project," he said.
"When I took on the role council was really clear to fix this problem. It took 18 months and really strong partnerships with the EPA.
"I don't think many people realise I was in Melbourne once a week for a long time working on that project. A lot of time and effort went into it."
Bulgana Green Power Hub was another project Mr Bailey said he was proud of.
"I came up with a stupid idea which has turned into a world-first project," he said.
"A lot of my stupid ideas over the journey have been knocked back by various people and council and that's their role.
"This one is now coming to fruition and really positive."
Mr Bailey said council's finances were in a better position from what they were when he took on the role.
"We now are seeing and have the ability to do projects such as the North Park club rooms and Lord Nelson Park club rooms," he said.
"In our capital investment this year there is a lot of investment in community infrastructure.
"Those type of projects will provide returns and dividends for kids coming through school now like I was 30 years ago."
Mr Bailey said growing up in Stawell allowed him to have an embedded knowledge within the region.
"When I played football at North Park the facilities there was the standard they still are today," he said.
"We are in a different era and different requirements and what we will see into the future is facilities where my girls want to play football.
"Facilities will be at the standard we expect, accommodating both male and female football or whatever sport they want to play."
Mr Bailey said having an in-depth knowledge of the area helped with some of the smaller issues.
"Knowing local roads is an advantage when the guys say we need to fix this pothole or a community member rings and say we need this fixed, you know exactly what they are talking about," he said.
"You get to know what's important to the community.
"And if I didn't know, the councillors around the table certainly made it clear what was important and what we needed to do."
A message Mr Bailey wanted to convey to the community was around positivity.
"There's so much positive out there," he said.
"I've spent the past four years trying to bring business to the region and we often hear or see a lot of negative in response to that.
"That doesn't help. This community is going places. We can see OTR on the highway, the Sloane Street residential development, the Bulgana Green Power Hub to the amazing work Frew's are doing out at the abattoir.
"Those types of things show how much positive there is. There are jobs coming. There is housing coming.
"It's all about to happen and people need to realise that."
Earlier
Northern Grampians Shire Council chief executive Michael Bailey has resigned.
Councillors accepted his resignation at a council meeting at St Arnaud today.
He was appointed community and economic director at the council in 2015.
He formally served as Bendigo YMCA chief executive and Horsham Aquatic Centre manger before that.
"It's been an amazing journey filled with experiences I could never have imagined I would have. Not many people can say they met a Prince, had dinner with the PM and dinner with the French Ambassador at his residence in Canberra all in the one year," Mr Bailey said.
"We are privileged to have the councillors we have in this community, they are committed beyond reason and so incredibly passionate about guiding our community into the next generation while protecting the past. They have set a really clear direction and make sure that is followed.
"The support from the community has been unreal, we have taken on some massive projects over the last few years and hopefully will help shape a changing direction for Northern Grampians Shire Council.
"For me and my family though it's time for a change, they haven't seen me that much over the last three years, my backyard needs to be finished and I have a speedboat that's been neglected, let's hope Lake Lonsdale fills and I still remember how to ski."
More to come.
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