The Otago Regional Council announced the resignation of a high-level manager yesterday afternoon.
ORC strategy, policy and science general manager Gwyneth Elsum will finish with the council next month before departing for Australia.
In a statement, Ms Elsum said the pull of family, friends and opportunities across the Tasman — and the current challenges of closed borders — factored into her decision.
The council said Ms Elsum’s departure was not expected to delay the delivery of its new Land and Water Regional Plan for Otago, due to be notified by December 2023.