Councillors were asked this month to endorse a renewal of membership to the organisation, and consider sending two delegates to its upcoming conference.
Instead, Deputy Mayor Paul Fellows said councillors felt their membership fees could be better used on more localised items.
The Murray Darling Association's purpose is to provide “effective representation of local government and communities at state and federal level in the management of Basin resources by providing information, facilitating debate and informing government policy”.
“The group represents a very broad area but with a very narrow focus,” Cr Fellows said.
“We (councillors) felt that our membership of the Riverina and Murray Joint Organisation of councils - which we call RAMJO - had a more defined focus, covering an area from Albury across to our council area.
“We also felt RAMJO had more clout, and we would rather focus our efforts on more localised issues.”
Council general manager Phil Stone said a number of NSW councils have also chosen to not renew their MDA memberships this year.
“A lot of councils get the strong sense that the MDA is not able to articulate what it is we need and want at this stage,” he said.
“There is nothing stopping us from becoming a member again in the future, if that’s what council wants.
“Council felt this was a cost to ratepayers that could be better utilised, given we were not getting a lot out of the membership.”
Membership of Murray Darling Association for Edward River Council 2022/2023 was priced at $3,072.51.
Fees are calculated at $0.35 per head of population, and are capped at 21,907 population or $6,681.82.