Launceston mayor Albert van Zetten said Mr Dobrzynski had been a great asset to the city.

“The City of Launceston has been extremely fortunate to have a general manager of the calibre of Robert Dobrzynski,” he said.

“It is a requirement of any effective council that its operational arm is led by a person with the ability to bring stakeholders together, approach challenges strategically, and with a fundamental understanding of the needs of its community.

“Robert has been a key player in delivering results for Launceston, including being a driving force behind the Greater Launceston Plan, the Launceston City Heart Project, the North Bank redevelopment, and many changes at operational level that have taken place to deliver better outcomes for Launceston's residents.”

The mayor said Mr Dobrzynski has also worked hard behind the scenes to lobby state and federal politicians in funding vital projects for Launceston, had done extensive work on the C.H. Smith redevelopment, and the University of Tasmania expansion project, as well as lobbying for improvements to Tamar River health.

“Many of the projects Robert has been involved with will have positive impacts on Launceston for decades to come,” Alderman van Zetten said.

“There are currently hundreds of millions of dollars' worth of projects on the council's books, and Robert can lay claim to being a key player in realising nearly all of them.

“He should be very proud of his achievements here, and Aldermen are extremely grateful for the dedication, hard work and enthusiasm he has displayed in the role.”

Mr Dobrzynski said working at the City of Launceston had been a privilege.

“My tenure at the City of Launceston has undoubtedly been the highlight of my career,” he said.

“It has been a difficult decision for me to reach, however after a long career as a senior manager I now owe it to my family to devote more attention to them.”

Mr Dobrzynski and his wife Susan plan to spend more time with their grandchildren on the mainland, but hope to keep close links with Launceston.

“I am very grateful to all the staff at the City of Launceston who work so hard to make the city a better place for its residents and I feel very honoured to have led such a magnificent team of people,” he said.

Mayor van Zetten said recruiting for a replacement general manager would begin as soon as possible,with the council eager to cast a wide net and to seek candidates from across Australia.