One local government is seeking to stem the spread of the drug ‘ice’, before it becomes a serious problem.

As the use of ‘ice’ extends into rural and regional communities across the country, the Whitsunday Mayor says the Bowen community in north Queensland wants to stop it before it starts.

Mayor Jennifer Whitney has written to the federal Member for Dawson, George Christensen, calling for funds to help run workshops and education programs.

Mr Christensen mentioned the letter in Federal Parliament this week, saying it was a sign that smaller communities were well aware of the potential trouble that ‘ice’ could bring.

The call comes as the Federal Government's ice taskforce turns its attention to the city of Mildura on the Victorian-NSW border this week.

The taskforce has been touring the nation to get a scope of the drug’s usage and production.

In Mildura, the authorities heard suggestions that criminal gangs and biker groups are running the ice trade in the region.

There were claims of bikies targeting young people, getting them addicted and then turning them into drug dealers, but local authorities appeared reluctant to discuss the issue.

The taskforce head, former Victorian Police commissioner Ken Lay, said “local problems need local solutions”.

“This isn't a problem that's likely to be fixed in the next little while,” he told reporters after one session.

“It's a long, long term program. It is a program where we're going to have to continually look at.”

When the taskforce finishes its tour, it is expected to release a national policy framework for combating ‘ice’ addiction in Australia.