Mr Allgayer was serving his 16th year as a councillor at Gunnedah but was also well known for his Landcare work and his role with Rotary.

His local government service included serving as deputy mayor from 1996 to 1998.

He was Gunnedah’s Citizen of the Year in 2001 and worked for 12 mines over 32 years.

Mr Allgayer was also a strong supporter of Gunnedah’s Project Koala and has himself planted thousands of koala gums over the years.

Gunnedah shire mayor Owen Hasler said Mr Allgayer would be “sorely missed” and described him as a “visionary, as well as a driven and committed individual, whose favourite mantra was ‘it’s all about outcomes’”.

In an email sent to NSW councillors, Gunnedah Shire Council general manager Eric Groth said Mr Allgayer had worked “tirelelessly for the betterment of his community in a voluntary capacity, as well as his professional capacity in the mining industry, both locally and throughout other parts of Australia”.

Cr Hasler said a by-election would not be required to fill Mr Allgayer’s position on the council because he had passed away within 18 months of the next local government election.

Mr Allgayer died Saturday and a memorial service will be held at the Memorial Park Cemetery Chapel at 2pm on Friday.