Each Christmas he dons what can only be described as a "striking outfit" to dazzle colleagues, the public gallery and webcast viewers at home. Four years ago it was a reindeer costume, and in 2017, a memorable green suit, which has seen a few outings.

This time it was red shirt and blue shorts with Santa motifs and a Christmas hat. Cr Leah Ferrara also joined in the festive feel with a red dress emblazoned with 'Merry Christmas.'

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The garb was a light start to a heavy meeting which discussed 35 items and lasted for five hours, including a half-hour break for dinner.

Now councillors will take a break before resuming meetings on February 2.

Mayor Bob Kirk told The Post that this year had a mix of everything, starting with bushfires, water restrictions, floods in February, the ever-pervasive coronavirus, more floods in August and lead contamination at Tarago.

"They were all low lights and none were under our control but we had to cope with them as a community, and we did," he said.

"The highlights far outweigh them in terms of things happening around the place. We have terrific housing growth and all of these infrastructure works. I'm quite buoyed by the way the place is shaping up and it augurs well for the council area."

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The Mayor believed Goulburn Mulwaree was increasingly being recognised as a growth area. He cited 2016 projections that 175 houses would be needed annually to cater for growth but last year 223 were approved. In the nine months to this November, 340 residences were approved, almost doubling the 2016 estimate.

In more recent time, the council has been grappling with an upsurge in semi-detached and dual occupancy dwellings, especially in established estates like Teneriffe at Marys Mount and Joseph's Gate. Cr Kirk said these could only be better controlled through changes to planning laws, which the council was acting upon, but state legislation did not forbid them in areas dominated by single housing. On Tuesday alone, a developer lodged development applications for 16 houses, all with granny flats.

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The recently signed-off Urban and Fringe Housing Strategy underpins the location for homes but the Mayor says attention must also turn to employment generating industries for new residents.

"All council areas are competing to draw employers to their areas so what we offer makes all the difference," Cr Kirk said.

"All these large infrastructure projects like the performing arts centre, the aquatic centre, water re-use scheme and the road maintenance program add to the liveability. When businesses start ticking off the boxes to come here, it all counts and our goal is to make the place more attractive."

Meantime, the Mayor intends taking a break over the festive season and winding down a little. But he also has a pet project in his holiday briefcase - the Goulburn to Crookwell rail trail.

"I do hope everyone is able to have a very enjoyable and family focused Christmas and New Year and can go into 2021 with continued optimism," he said.

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