Petition calling for action against Wodonga Council gathers 1000 signatures, but MP suggests more information needed

Bill Tilley offered the assessment after receiving a petition gathered by the association since September.

The petition, which calls for a review of Wodonga Council's actions, will be taken by Mr Tilley to the Victorian Parliament for tabling from November 9.

The association's president Ian Deegan, who presented the petition to Mr Tilley at a meeting on Wednesday, said it had been signed by more than 1000 residents.

He had originally said he wanted 5000 signatories.

"When I said 5000 I was probably exaggerating a bit, I was trying to get people mobile," Mr Deegan said.

"I'm happy, I wanted at least 1000 and we've got more than that."

Mr Tilley said he hadn't met the association before Wednesday and suggested they needed to "put some meat on the bone and say specifically what they're happy with and not happy with".

"If the ratepayers are concerned I am happy to make that representation to the minister and shadow minister and see if the respective parties would receive a delegation to talk about their concerns, but I would say unhappiness is not a catalyst for change," Mr Tilley said.

"I would like the ratepayers to give some examples to show why they're unhappy….because the realities are that state government and local government are heavily audited.

"We've got the auditor-general, Essential Services Commission, IBAC and the responsible minister, there's a whole range of instrumentalities."

Mr Deegan said he wanted the State Government to examine the council's "whole business practice, allowances and the debt repayments".

Wodonga mayor Rodney Wangman noted the council was subject to auditing.

"Wodonga Council is open to any review and welcomes opportunities for improvement," Cr Wangman said. 

"The council is aware of a petition being circulated by the ratepayers association but has not been formally presented with any information."