Mr Greenberger and wife Sandra are moving to Buderim on the Sunshine Coast, although they plan to regularly return to their Port Fairy apartment to oversee Sandra's business Leskes Jewellers.

The move has brought an end to Mr Greenberger's service to south-west shires, starting at Southern Grampians and then Corangamite for 10 years and until now a similar stint as Moyne's environment and infrastructure director.

It's the sense of community he says he'll miss and "the way people galvanise to respond to challenges and opportunities".

"I think some people take it for granted when you shouldn't," Mr Greenberger said. "You just know if something goes wrong there are always going to be people there."

A career in local government wasn't on the radar when Mr Greenberger trained as a physical education teacher in the early '90s. But managing a recreation centre led to his roles in physical services.

"It led to different career opportunities," he said.

At Moyne Shire, assisting in the aftermath of the 2018 Saint Patrick's Day bushfires and finding a balance with traders in upgrading the Port Fairy streetscape were the opportunities Mr Greenberger found most rewarding.

But he said the council also faced challenges, particularly on issues he saw local government as becoming "caught in the middle" of, such as deteriorating state-managed roads and wind farm approvals out of the council's hands.

"We don't make the decisions but we get left to deal with the consequences of the decisions. It's also very difficult because while your councils are accessible the state politicians aren't as much. That's why people look to council," Mr Greenberger said.

Mr Greenberger has had advocacy roles, serving as the face of the Princes Highway Action Alliance Group, to get traction on bigger issues.

The pandemic led he and Sandra to buy a house in Queensland, always liking the idea of the lifestyle and climate.

"About this time last year my wife and I were having a chat and we thought it would be a nice change," Mr Greenberger said.

"COVID makes you re-evaluate a few things, and we have friends up there."

Mayor Daniel Meade thanked and farewelled Mr Greenberger at this month's council meeting. "You've done a magnificent job," he said.

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