More than 3000 responses to a Daily Advertiser poll on whether council should fly the flag were received within 24 hours, with 61 per cent voting against the idea.

Among those who disagreed with the idea of flying the flag – a symbol of pride and diversity in the LGBTI community – was Margaret Houen, who said council should stick to roads, rates and rubbish.

“It would be outside the purpose of our local council to either support or oppose the proposed marriage of same-sex couples,” Mrs Houen said. “Councillors have been elected to represent all the citizens of our community.”

Councillors are expected to be split 5-4 when a mayoral minute asks them to consider publicly supporting same-sex marriage on Monday night.

Retired mayor and long-time councillor Peter Dale said the same-sex marriage campaign was “in no way, shape or form” something council should take a position on.

“It’s not the role of local government by any stretch of the imagination,” Mr Dale said.

“Council has better things to do than dabbling around the edges of something that has nothing to do with them.

“I was a councillor for 25 years, I have a fair idea about what’s a council issue... I wouldn’t have been distracted by this.”

Mr Dale said the Local Government Act made it clear that councils “should act fairly, ethically and without bias in the interests of the local community”.

However, Rainbow Riverina’s Kat van der Wijngaart, who started the campaign to fly the flag at the council chambers, said perhaps a little bias was warranted if it helped remove discrimination against a specific group.

“The Local Government Act, when read together, broadly asks councillors to be leaders and to provide governance,” she said.

“Long gone are the days of roads, rates and rubbish, we expect them to advocate for us.

“To those who say this isn’t council’s issue, I say it is – councils are best-placed to advise ministers on the feeling of the electorate.”

Doctor James Masson from the Wagga Marriage Action Group, which opposes same-sex marriage, said the postal survey should be an individual decision, not influenced by outside bodies.