WAGGA'S role in a Joint Organisation (JO) of the region's councils, as proposed under the Local Government review, has drawn mixed views from members of the area's councils.
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The Riverina Eastern Regional Organisation of Councils (REROC) has lodged an expression of interest to become part of a pilot program to reorganise itself into a JO.
But one Bland Shire councillor, Tony Lord, believes Wagga should be excluded from the JO as it is too dissimilar to the other councils that would comprise the body, which mostly represent rural areas and have much smaller population bases.
"I'm not anti-Wagga but what I'm concerned about is what the report says about councils under 10,000 (people) under a rural model," he said.
"It's probably more appropriate if those councils get together and discuss this model, because they have different issues and problems than what Wagga City Council would have."
Councillor Lord expressed his concerns at Bland Shire's meeting last week and a motion was passed to support REROC's intentions so long as Wagga City Council was excluded.
Bland Shire deputy mayor Liz McGlynn said most councillors had since had a change of mind about excluding Wagga in the week following that meeting, however, and a rescission motion would be put to its next meeting, which she said would "absolutely pass".
"(The decision) wasn't thought out and it was ridiculous," she said.
"Wagga is an important part of life in Bland Shire - you can't penalise somebody because they're too big or too small."
The mayor of neighbouring Temora Shire, Rick Firman, who has been a vocal figure throughout the review process, admitted he was surprised when he saw the resolution that came out of the Bland Shire Council meeting.
Councillor Firman is in support of Wagga joining the new JO, with the city an integral part a wider region.
"They must be part of a JO, as long as they don't believe they're going to rule the roost and they also embrace the rural and regional councils that are their neighbours and friends," he said.
Wagga mayor Rod Kendall said he was of the understanding the city council had widespread support to become part of the JO from the region's other councils.
"In discussions I've had with the various mayors, particularly of the councils adjoining Wagga, is they see Wagga's presence in the JO is vital to that (body) working and functioning," he said.
However, Councillor Kendall acknowledged the need for Wagga City Council to work with its neighbours as equals under the proposed JO.
"No council should dominate or be dominated," he said.
