The Brimpaen farmer said it was time to move on.

"When I first nominated I made the commitment I would stand for two terms, and if the community wanted to me to keep serving in my capacity I would. I believe you need a revolving door for councillors and the days of having long-term councillors are well gone in my view," he said.

"I think it's important if councillors nominate, they put their decision making back into the community. I think that makes you more accountable. If you stand for only one term, you are not accountable for the decisions you make.

"One of the things in public life is you need the community to allow them to assess your role as a councillor, and if you work hard enough they will give you the opportunity to keep serving. The community wants to know hows its councillors think on the big issues.

"Even if they disagree, they will support you if they know where you're coming from."

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Cr Grimble said he was asked to nominate by members of the farming community. "It was important for me to have a rural view on a city council, and I think that remains important. I make no apologies raising a rural view in the council chamber, and that's still front and centre in my mind," he said.

Cr Grimble counted his roles in the creation of the Wimmera Intermodal Freight Terminal at Dooen, the roof at Horsham's Regional Livestock Exchange and the Anzac Pedestrian Bridge as his proudest achievements.

"Transport planning was always another thing I was interested in, so obviously the advocacy with the bypass and understanding the transport needs of the city," he said. "Funding for Horsham College happened during my time as mayor, so I was pleased to advocate for funds like that. It was also good to be involved in getting mobile coverage for Brimpaen, Wartook and Laharum.

"During my two terms as mayor we had a good council that worked co-operatively, and we manged a lot of things even though we did have some very divisive issues on the table like the town hall. There was enormous angst through that, so being able to pick up those issues, so being able to retain the hall and build the performing arts centre was good."

Cr Grimble said the next council would have to look at how to better integrate the three major highways that crossed through Horsham's CBD.

"We need a bridge to the west of the city, it's been identified as our number one transport priority, and we've now got VicRoads is happy to work with council to advance some of that planning work," he said. "That work will probably be ongoing."

Cr Grimble thanked the community and his family for their support while in public life

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