Cr John Connors was elected as mayor, unopposed, at an extraordinary meeting on Monday, February 2, following the resignation of Cr Tracy Norman from the role.

Cr Steve Low AM was elected as the deputy mayor, also unopposed.

The council is also on the hunt for a new general manager following Coralie Nichols' resignation earlier this year.

Before coming on to council, Cr Connors had been openly critical of the previous council's decision not to accept Port Stephens Council's offer to merge.

He said that issue is firmly off the table.

"It's not achievable," he said.

"I knew it was dead in the water coming on to council.

"As I've said to staff both indoor and outdoor, my vision isn't the vision I had three years ago and I can put their minds at rest that amalgamation is not my vision."

He said he is yet to decide if he will contest the September local government elections either as a mayor or as a ward councillor.

"I'll see how the next couple of months go before making a decision."

Voters will face a change to the council - voting separately for a mayor and a reduced number of councillors for each ward.

Cr Connors said the special rate variation would still go ahead as planned with the increase in revenue used for infrastructure as originally intended.

He said while planned works would continue, the council would look at "prudential" spending and he was expecting a deficit budget.

"If we don't have the money we don't spend it," he said.

He was keen to reassure residents that the council would continue to function as usual in regards to communication issues.

He said the only decision council made at its last ordinary meeting was not to renew a contract with consultants.

"Facebook continues, the website continues, all will continue and nothing will change," he said.