Due to health reasons Dr Kelly resigned from his position on Thursday, which led to an outpouring of support.

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"It didn't matter how you voted, you always got the impression he was on your side or fighting for your community," president of the Bega branch of the Labor Party and Bega Valley Shire councillor Liz Seckold said.

Cr Seckold first met Dr Kelly about 15 years ago, before he was elected, and was "very, very impressed".

"Because he was such a genuine person, no airs or graces; he talked matter-of-fact, straight from the heart."

Leanne Atkinson, who has run as Labor's candidate for Bega in the state elections three times, said Dr Kelly's most important quality was that he "judged people on the person he saw in front of him and what need he could assist them with".

"I think he was the quintessential local member, the person who would help anyone at any time, even if it wouldn't give him publicity or kudos," she said.

Dr Kelly's major achievements in the Bega Valley included fighting for the Bega Bypass, the South East Regional Hospital (SERH) and the Port of Eden.

In an at-times emotional media conference in Canberra on Thursday, Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese said SERH "wouldn't have happened" without Dr Kelly and the bypass was one of the few state roads that was "100 per cent federally funded" because Dr Kelly was "tenacious" in arguing for it.

Cr Seckold said when she came to the Bega Valley almost 40 years ago, land had been purchased for the bypass, but Dr Kelly was the one who "got it in motion" after he entered parliament.

She said he also motivated all parties involved to provide the funds for the extension to the Eden Wharf, to allow cruise ships to dock.

Ms Atkinson said he tried to promote the Bega Valley as a centre for renewable energy, saying he advocated for investment into renewables in the region "whenever possible".

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Cr Seckold said he supported renewable energy projects, like those instigated by Clean Energy For Eternity, and wanted to turn the Bega Valley into "the green flagship" for renewables.

Ms Atkinson also said Dr Kelly was instrumental in bringing the wind turbines for the Boco Rock Wind Farm through the Eden Port, demonstrating a "real opportunity for economic growth" for the area.

He was the patron for Bega Valley Suicide Prevention Action Network, and Cr Seckold said he attended every launch by the network.

Federally, he was co-convener of the bi-partisan Parliamentary Friends of Suicide Prevention group.

A BVSC spokesperson said Dr Kelly's "positive approach to issues, responsiveness to need, and ability to bring people and ideas together will be missed - along with [his] sense of humour".