At 73 years of age, Cr Nell, a former marine scientist, is the elder statesman and the second longest-serving councillor [after Bruce Mackenzie] on Port Stephens Council. He has spent 34 distinguished years, including two as mayor, representing the people of east ward.

Likewise, Cr Tucker, 67, a long-time resident on the Tilligerry peninsula and retired engineer, has decided not to recontest central ward after 17 years of proud service.

While the two may be world's apart in a political sense - Cr Nell is a former member of the Labor Party and Cr Tucker is ex-Liberal - they have much in common when it comes to debating contentious issues, respecting each other's views and making decisions.

"I never got involved in personality politics," quipped Cr Nell. "It never helps anyone and while there have been many challenges over the years, I can honestly say that I have mostly enjoyed my time on council."

Cr Tucker said he has always had a mutual respect for his east ward colleague.

"Not many people would know this but some years back John and I worked together using the 2013 LEP to rezone much of the pristine crown land in Port Stephens to environmental protection. This included predominantly bushland between Mallabula and Lemon Tree and across Tilligerry Creek at Taylors Beach. At the time I was president of the local Liberal Party branch and John was president of the Labor party branch."

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That decision, according to the councillors, changed the rural landscape of the area and protected large chunks of Port Stephens rural property, stretching from the Bay through the Tilligerry peninsula and into areas west of Raymond Terrace.

In an interview with the Examiner last week, the pair spoke out for the first time about one of the most controversial proposals to go before Port Stephens Council - the failed Special Rate Variation of 2018/19. Despite the councillors voting in favour of increasing rates by 7.5 per cent per year over seven years, they now agree the hike was too extravagant.

"In hindsight, a more modest rate rise would have been easier [to sell]. We should have been more flexible, we went too high and we lost the public," Cr Nell said.

Cr Tucker added: "I believe any future rate rise proposal should be targeted - it would be a fairer system."

The SRV aside, Cr Nell admitted that most arguments around the council table concerned planning issues.

"Sporting committees are much easier to deal with." And Cr Nell should know, he spent all 34 years, and possibly a couple more, as the council representative on the Tomaree Sports Council and was duly recognised 12 months ago when his fellow councillors afforded him the honour of renaming the No. 1 sports field at Tomaree the 'John Nell Match Field'.

His achievements, though, extend far and wide. Among them are advocating for coastal waters management, improvements to the Nelson Bay town centre and carparks, gaining more cycling paths and his ongoing attempts to balance the level of development with protecting the environment.

"I am happy with the compromise on building heights in Nelson Bay CBD and smart parking seems to be working well despite the changes catching many people by surprise. Sometimes the wheels on council do not turn as quickly as some residents would like them to."

He believes that council must find ways to continue to meet community expectations. "There are more cyclists today, the roads are busier and community facilities need regular upgrading and maintenance. Infrastructure and services need to be developed along with the influx of new housing."

As for the future, Cr Nell said that he would like to see the Gan Gan Army Camp protected from any development, while his one big disappointment was not being able to achieve for east ward ratepayers a 25m public indoor heated pool. "This still needs to happen."

The one big regret for Cr Tucker, on the other hand, was not giving the people of Anna Bay a promised sports and recreation club, "though we did manage to help them gain a new surf club".

Reflecting on his four terms on council, Cr Tucker said he learned early on that the most important thing to grasp as a councillor was that of teamwork. "Little can be achieved without the collective effort and support of fellow councillors, council staff and state and federal members," he argued.

He has a proud record of working in collaboration with fellow colleagues and council staff behind the scenes to get things done.

"Ken Jordan and I were responsible for reshaping the developer contribution plan in 2006, bringing it in line with other councils and effectively tripling the council income from new developments," Cr Tucker said.

"On the council we helped rebuild many roads - Tanilba, Clemenceau, Francis and Shearman Avenues, Daniel Crescent, The Gibbers and the majority of Lemon Tree Passage Road, just to name a few. Then there was the building of Medowie Social, where I started from day one in 2004 chipping away with the likes of Craig Baumann, Ken Muir, Bruce MacKenzie and Chris Doohan.

"We oversaw the upgrading of parks and amenities at Henderson Park, Caswell Reserve and Tanilba Park, helped install an RV dump point, upgrade the boat ramp, pool and pontoons at Lemon Tree Passage, and championed rural fire stations at Salt Ash, Anna Bay and at Tanilba Bay."

Cr Tucker said that he had succeeded in securing upgrades at the Mallabula Sports Complex playgrounds, BMX pump track and public toilets at the Salt Ash Community Hall, as well supporting men's sheds at Raymond Terrace, Tilligerry and Karuah.

"And there are still things happening now, including the upgrade of Lemon Tree Passage Road from Michael Drive to Rooks Road; the long-awaited shade sail over the pool deck in Henderson Park and a barbecue shelter and landscaping for Peace Park," he said.

"Also, landscaping the Tanilba Bay roundabout and historic gates; pathways from Mallabula to Lemon Tree Passage and along Avenue of the Allies; upgrades for soccer and athletics amenities plus an additional tennis court and skate park.

"I would like to think that I have left the place in better shape than when I arrived."

Both men say they will look forward to a short break after the September 4 election before embarking on some travel. Cr Nell says he will continue his duties with the coastal zone advisory management committee, while Cr Tucker intends to fulfil his commitments [mowing lawns] at the Tanilba Bay golf course.

The pair continue to be held in high regard by their peers, council staff and ratepayers alike.

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