Cr Polley's decision to step down came just one day before her husband and the state's longest serving MP Michael Polley put up his hand to run for the council.

Her reason for retiring is that she wants to do the things she was continually putting off - spend time with family, grandchildren (she's called Granny K) and friends, travel around the state, attend art classes and delve more into her family history, of which there are Viking links.

"I've been thinking about it off and on for a little while," Cr Polley said.

"We went away for seven weeks holiday to Scotland, which I really thoroughly enjoyed and when you get away from the coal face, you start to reassess things a bit.

"There's always more to do - but you can't do it all."

Looking back over the past 15 years, she believes the development of social capital in her community is one of her biggest achievements.

"When I was first elected and I would go campaigning and I would knock on people's doors and they'd say, 'I don't like this Northern Midlands Council, it's never been any good since we had the Evandale Council', or the Ross Council or the whatever council, depending on which town you were in," she said.

"But I think now people identify as being from the Northern Midlands and they're happy to be from here and I think we have strong communities."

Cr Polley is also proud of the fact she is leaving the council financially secure and debt free, with more than $6 million in the bank.

The electorate is growing in population, the development of the Longford levee has allowed people to build in areas once deemed unsafe, there's a booming industrial centre and significant agri-business expansion.

She is also pleased with the quality of roads, as the council area has the longest length of roads in the state and there are just 20 timber deck bridges to be replaced or redecked with concrete.

Cr Polley is diplomatic in her answer about regrets, saying regardless of her personal thoughts she had to "go out and sell" whatever the council voted for.

"I think on most occasions, I don't have any qualms at all - you just have to do, what you've got to do and move on," she said.

Cr Polley said her proudest moment was in 2001 when she joined all the mayors from around the country at a special centenary of federation ceremony at the Royal Exhibition Building in Melbourne.