The first replacement for Wangaratta's current logo featuring the cormorant received backlash in May because the bird was replaced with lines forming a "W" shape.

The lines represented the Ovens and King rivers that run through the city.

In the new design released today, the same style of two lines remain, but this time form the outline of a cormorant - which has significance to the Aboriginal history in Wangaratta.

Community and Aboriginal groups were consulted on the new design before the release.

Mayor Dean Rees was listed as the contact for media inquiries when the new design was sent out yesterday, described by the council as contemporary and modernised. When contacted, he did not agree it was the best option.

"I probably don't think it's the right one just yet," he said.

"Unless you are told that it signifies two rivers, you just see the backbone of the bird."

Cr Rees said he wanted to see Wangaratta's logo use the cormorant at it appears on the current design, but in a simplified way.

"Something needs to be modernised and simplified. I think we could simplify our current logo without all the other palavery around the logo and just have the bird there. That signifies Wangaratta to a degree as it always has," he said.

"That bird (on the new design) could be any kind of bird" ... Even some of the cultural people said that yes, it doesn't look like a cormorant, but neither did the other one.

"At least the other one does have some recognition in relation to knowing that it's part of Wangaratta."

IN OTHER NEWS:

He acknowledged there was some positive feedback on the new logo.

"The user groups we consulted with said it was certainly better than the 'W'. A couple of the cultural heritage groups think it's quite good and were OK with a couple of small changes," Cr Rees said.

He did not know how other councillors would vote when the design is put to them at Tuesday's meeting, but said he would put forward an alternate motion to keep the current logo for now.

The logo was part of a wider marketing campaign promoting Wangaratta as "the rural city of..." things like great people, experiences and tourist destinations.

The campaign will be still rolled out in early 2020.