The Yerong Creek Progress Association has been campaigning for the mural for two years and enlisted a well-known artist after securing drought relief funding.

Irate locals say they have no issue with the artist but claim they were left out when the progress association settled on a final design, which resident Justine Isherwood described as a "psychedelic nightmare".

Ms Isherwood said the progress association set up few community consultations at times that weren't suitable for most residents.

"You can do a mailbox drop. We have one once a month for fish and chip night, which is the big night of the month. And everyone gets that," she said.

"That could have been done at any time over the past two years or even in the past month with the design but we've only had a week to get submissions in."

The proposed artwork was released for public exhibition last Thursday night and residents have until Wednesday at midnight to make submissions to council.

The design was chosen by the progress association and a selection committee whose members included representatives from council, Eastern Riverina Arts and Riverina Water, which owns the tower.

Ms Isherwood said she had garnered 90 signatures for a petition opposing the mural after canvassing her town, which at the 2016 census had a population of 173 people.

Yerong Progress Association member Peter Yates, a former Lockhart Shire mayor, said he was aware of community pushback but disputed claims residents hadn't had enough opportunity to discuss the design.

"The committee actually went to the community and asked the community what they would like. They spent quite a lot of days in front of the Delta [Agribusiness] store asking for community input and we did have community meetings as well," he said.

"Our thoughts were that we needed to have a mural that stood out with bright colours so that it attracted people into the township of Yerong Creek."

Mr Yates questioned why unhappy residents hadn't come up with an alternative design and said the progress association would be open to "slight adjustments only".

Current mayor Rodger Schirmer said council had applied for drought funding for the mural but the disagreement was between Yerong Creek residents and their progress association.

"I think it's a moot point in terms of consultation. Whenever council puts out anything for consultation, it's been my experience that very few people avail themselves of that," he said.

"My dearest wish is that this comes to an amicable agreement. If by altering the artwork in some way it makes it more acceptable to a larger number of people, then that's they way it should go."

Residents will have the opportunity to discuss the mural at the next Lockhart Shire Council meeting from 6pm on Monday, March 15.