The rumour started doing the rounds on Tuesday afternoon, just a day after Mr Rush resigned from council following a drink-driving charge on Friday night.

The Western Advocate received a tip-off that Mr Rush had been contracted to work as an economic development consultant but general manager David Sherley said that was not the case.

In a written response to questions from the Western Advocate, Mr Sherley said Mr Rush was not taking up any role with council.

He further stated that the Local Government Act prohibited any person who had held a civic office in relation to council from taking on a paid position with the council within six months of leaving.

“There is no proposal to employ Mr Rush by Bathurst Regional Council,” Mr Sherley stated in the written response.

“It is noted section 354 of the Local Government Act states: Local Government Act 1993 No 30, Chapter 11 Part 5 Section 354, Restriction on appointment of a former mayor or councillor: (1)  A person who has held civic office in relation to a council must not be appointed to any paid position on the staff of the council within 6 months after ceasing to hold the office; (2)  A purported appointment in contravention of this section is void.”

The Local Government Act would have allowed for Mr Rush to remain on council even after his drink-driving charge but he told the Western Advocate at the weekend that he believed he had choice but to resign.

“Drink-driving is too important an issue in our society and the laws regarding drink-driving are there ultimately to provide safety for all us,” he said.

“You can’t have people running the risk of harming themselves or others, and that’s especially the case when you are the mayor.”

Mr Rush had served as mayor for three-and-a-half years.