local government for the city is provided by the wagga wagga city council. as well as wagga wagga itself the city council area includes the outlying towns of tarcutta, ladysmith, mangoplah, collingullie and uranquinty covering an area of 4,824 km². the local government area was formed as a result of the amalgamation of the city of wagga wagga with the mitchell and kyeamba shires in 1981. the council itself consists of 11 councillors elected for a four-year term and from these a mayor and deputy mayor are elected each year by the council.