Rouse Hill councillor Barbara Burton lodged a motion at last week's meeting for the council to extend paid maternity leave to 18 weeks of full pay and introduce two weeks of paid paternity leave.

The council would also forward the motion to the Local Government and Shire Association in support of the leave as a standard condition for all NSW local government employees.

Cr Burton said Gosford and Ryde councils had already implemented 18 weeks of paid leave.

``We're a family area and people here respect those values,'' she said.

``This will make council an employer of choice, help retain existing staff and increase morale.

``The council has an employment budget of $44 million.

``We would have been able to absorb the cost.''

Other councillors questioned the timing of the motion, saying both the federal government and opposition were debating paid maternity leave policies.

Liberal councillors, including two females, voted against the motion and it was lost.

Councillor Mike Thomas said: ``It doesn't take leadership to spend other people's money.

``Cr Burton is putting her hand into the ratepayer's pocket to pay for it.''

Councillor Robyn Preston said the council should wait for the state award for NSW government employees to be re-negotiated at the end of the year.

``We need to make an informed choice and shouldn't put the cart before the horse,'' Cr Preston said.

Council has 20 staff on maternity leave.

It paid $157,000 in the past financial year in maternity leave and estimated this would double to $300,000 if leave was extended to 18 weeks.

Resident Katie Gardiner gave birth to her third child, Laura, at Norwest Private Hospital on Wednesday.

Mrs Gardiner received 14 weeks of paid maternity leave as an employee of the Department of Education.

She changed this to 28 weeks at half pay and combined it with long service leave to take 10 months off work.

``In my view, mothers definitely need at least six months off, but lots of my friends would say you need about 12 months,'' Mrs Gardiner said.

Mrs Gardiner will return to work as a teacher two days a week.