Councillor Paul Funnell will use a motion at Monday night's meeting to push for the council to lobby the state government for an emergency allocation of water in the southern basin.

Despite their best efforts, southern Riverina irrigators have been unable to budge the zero water allocation that has stayed in place for three years, causing an economic blow to rural communities.

Cr Funnell said now was the time for the council to take on the leadership role that comes with being the region's capital and not only advocate for its own local government area, but those left to fight the battle alone.

He said Wagga was there to reap the benefits from the irrigation and agriculture industry, which pours tens of millions of dollars into the city's economy, but council did not advocate on its behalf.

"If the centre takes the first step, it's an injection of courage and energy for others to say 'right let's pick up this fight'," he said.

"[Those affected] areas have been advocating for years, but everyone left them out on their own. Let's be the leader, take up the challenge and ask everyone else to come with us."

Southern Riverina Irrigators chairman Chris Brooks said he commended Wagga City Council, if the councillors did in fact choose to support this motion.

Mr Brooks said it was an issue that he had fought for several years, but "it's going to take an uprising of the local people".

"It is good to see the council on the front foot, because most of the general public don't care about it despite the fact we are saying it is creating a food security issue," he said.

"There's hardly any rice on our supermarket shelves because they have barely had a crop for two years, and our wheat supplies are now being threatened."

Mr Brooks said the council would have the support of basin communities along the Murray to Griffith, Shepparton, Albury and right down to Mildura.

"You only have to look out the window to see that there is no money and farmers aren't spending because they haven't got any and the rest of the community are suffering," he said.

"It is a difficult fight and it would be great to see some councils getting involved for, and on behalf of, the community because the state and federal politicians are not at all interested."