Urana’s last mayor and election candidate Pat Bourke said the former council was a reluctant participant in the merger with Corowa and remained upset there were no wards which would guarantee the area representation on the nine-member Federation Council.

“We would be left with nothing,” he said.

“The future wouldn’t look good at all if there was no representation after the weekend.

“They can all stand up and say they will look after Urana, but unless you live here every day, are involved in communities at the weekend, you haven’t got a hope in hell.

“We had nine councillors looking after us out here previously and they were all busy.”

The former Urana Shire had three councillors in three wards covering an area of 3650 square kilometres and the communities of Urana, Oaklands, Rand, Morundah and Boree Creek.

In comparison, Corowa Shire had 2500 square kilometres including larger centres of Corowa, Howlong and Mulwala.

“I find it a bit rude when people say if there were wards you can have one up here,” Mr Bourke said.

“It is a huge area to serve and they are missing the point.

“It is so important we get representation on council.”

Mr Bourke’s sentiments are shared by his uncle, Urana businessman and former councillor for 21 years, Denis Smith.

“If we can’t get any candidates up it will be an absolute disaster for us,” Mr Smith said.

“We will be abandoned and some of the candidates from Corowa, if elected, won’t even get past the main drag of their town.

“If we only get one up it will be a mammoth task to cover the area they need to, to effectively represent the ratepayers of this area.”

Mr Smith replaced his brother, Anthony, on Urana Council, who died when he was shire president, aged in his early 50s.

Their father James was on Urana Shire for 40 years and the town’s flora and fauna reserve is named in his honour.

Mr Smith said every election battle he entered was contested.