Wellington's mayor Cr Anne Jones has come under fire over comments she made about the Dubbo/Wellington merger during Monday's Anzac Day commemorations.
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Cr David Grant warned her at Wednesday night's Wellington Council meeting her comments had made some locals angry.
"This is possibly my last Anzac speech as mayor of Wellington if the amalgamation proposal becomes a reality..."
Cr Grant said it would have been inappropriate not to air ratepayer views on the subject.
"I have received many calls from people saying you were using the address to score political points on Anzac Day," he told fellow councillors and people in the gallery.
Wellington Council also voted not to join other country councils, Cabonne who would be merged with Orange and Blayney, and Oberon which would join Bathurst in taking legal action in the NSW Land and Environment Court.
Cr Mark Griggs said he was very uncomfortable with this, it appeard to be a foregone conclusion.
"It appears a watertight case," he said.
"The amount of money this will cost ratepayers is not clear if this is thrown out of court. They have dotted the Is and crossed the Ts about forced amalgamations.''
Cr Griggs would later say "Matter of fact Macquarie Street tells us we're doomed."
It's understood general managers and other council administrators were already in talks about new jobs in the merged Dubbo/Wellington entity.
But council mergers in the bush have become a political hot potato for the federal government, especially the National party. Swings in marginal, and even safe seats cost put some big names in trouble.
The Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce has warned the NSW government to 'back off' on forced amalgamations.
Under threat from former Nat and Independent Tony Windsor, Mr Joyce has repeatedly backed Walcha from being gobbled up by its largest neighbour Tamworth.
"I fully support the strong community calls for the proposed amalgamation of Walcha Council with Tamworth Regional Council to be withdrawn," Mr Joyce said.
But Mr Windsor, who also opposed the forced council amalgamations, said Mr Joyce's words rang hollow.
"It's tokenistic for Joyce to say he opposes the merger when he's a senior player in the party that is forcing it," he said.
Groups based in Sydney are preparing a campaign to make local government amalgamations in bush areas a major issue in the upcoming federal election.
