At council's next meeting, Deputy Mayor Mitchell Nadin will introduce a notice of motion to remove the shire's welcome to refugees and asylum seekers signs. 

Since they were installed last June, one in Bega was so badly damaged it needed to be replaced while a sign in Eden has been stolen. 

Cr Nadin was concerned these acts of vandalism could occur again.

"This is not a one-off now, this has become a pattern," he said. 

READ MORE: Vandals damage refugee welcome sign in Bega

"They've become a sign saying 'stay away. Refugees, asylum seekers, we don't want them here'."

The first reason he was putting forward the notice was due to the risk the media's reporting the incidents of vandalism would have on the Bega Valley's reputation. 

"It's not just about newspapers anymore, it's about social media - everyone shares these stories dozens and dozens of times and people are reading about it in places like Sydney and Melbourne," Cr Nadin said. 

"This is doing damage to our reputation as an inclusive shire.

"We can't have these negative stories being constantly peddled by the media." 

READ MORE: Eden Welcome Refugee sign stolen

The second reason was because of the division he said had been caused between the Bega Valley's residents over the issue of refugees, and fragmenting the community over the issue was not worth it.

"Look at the signs, they're completely ineffective," he said. 

"We're spending money, we're ruining our reputation and we're causing social division over nothing." 

In 2002, Bega Valley became the first council in Australia to become a Rural Australians for Refugees-initiated Welcome Town.

Cr Nadin said he was aware of the damage the symbolism of removing the signs could do to the shire's reputation as a welcoming place for refugees. 

But he said local government councillors should not "be in the space with refugees and asylum seekers" anyway. 

READ MORE: Refugee Welcome Zone signs launched after years of advocacy

"It's not up to me to change people's minds and hearts," he said. 

"They will think what they think and we need to respect their voices on this." 

What council could do instead, he said, was reaffirm the fact the shire was a welcome refugee zone and support the work of the Social Justice Advocates of the Sapphire Coast in their multicultural ventures. 

Council's next meeting will be on March 13 from 2pm at the Bega Valley Commemorative Civic Centre.