Representatives from Western Plains shires had the chance to voice the issues facing their districts in the Western Divisions Councils of NSW's half-year conference last weekend.

At least 30 representatives from shires including Brewarrina, Bourke and Walgett took part in the two-day event at Cobar's Ward Oval precinct from Thursday 13 June.

Housing, workforce and childcare were hot topics on the conference floor according to conference chair and Broken Hill City councillor Dave Gallagher.

"Most people are two two-wage families. Everyone wants to work to provide for their family and we could get a lot more people in the workforce if we could have more childcare," Mr Gallagher said.

"We all have our own issues: childcare, we all need more staff, accommodation, housing and so forth. Bourke, Brewarrina, Walgett, Cobar, Broken Hill and Wentworth, the same issues are in each council."

NSW Minister for Agriculture and Tara Moriarty addresses regional representatives the the June conference. IMAGE: supplied

On the first day the conference also heard from state Minister for Agriculture and Minister for Western NSW Tara Moriarty.

Cobar mayor Jarrod Marsden said he would have liked more from her about the 2024-25 NSW budget, which the government released on 18 June.

 "It was really awesome of her to give us some of her time to actually come out to us and outline what the government looks like," Cr Marsden said.

"Would've been nice to get a little bit more out of what's going to be in next week's budget, but she kept that one pretty close to her."

Speaking to the the Western Plains App on the morning of the second day of the conference, Cr Marsden said there had been "robust, but respectful debate" on the floor.

"We don't always get the answers we want to hear, but when you've got the right people in the room at least you can get some answers," Cr Marsden said.

"Housing and workforce are the two hot topics at the moment for everyone."

Cr Marsden said he would be voicing his concern around what the NSW government classifies as a regional area.

"This 'one size fits all' approach doesn't work for western NSW," Cr Marsden said.

"They need to understand that 'regional' is not Newcastle and Wollongong. They're very special and very important in their own right, but they're not regional."

"They soak up a lot of the regional funding."