Dubbo and Wellington had to amalgamate because the city couldn't afford a "struggling council on its doorstep", according to Dubbo MP Troy Grant.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The deputy premier made the comment alongside Local Government Minister Paul Toole and Western Plains Regional Council administrator Michael Kneipp on Tuesday.
"Dubbo City itself could have stood alone, there's no doubt about that, the [IPART] report said that, but what the independent report said from the outset is for the long term benefit of Dubbo, it was a merged partnership with either Wellington or Narromine because to have Dubbo performing at its optimum it couldn't afford to have a struggling council on its doorstep," Mr Grant said.
"The capacity, or the lack of capacity in the Wellington [Council] area, which has something, I understand, like a 20 person shortage because of vacancies in staffing really takes away from their capacity to deliver.
"This new entity will rectify that and give this region significant capacity, which is the basic foundation of why we are where we are."
There was no way he would support anything that would make his communities worse off, Mr Grant said.
The former mayors of both Dubbo and Wellington were strong campaigners against the merger.
In February, then-Dubbo mayor Mathew Dickerson went as far as to create the 'NoDubbington' song to stand against the NSW government's proposal.
The amalgamation was announced on May 17 and since then Mr Grant said he had received only ten walk-ins or phone calls or emails on the issue.
"I think it was six-four in favour [of amalgamation] and people in this region have basically expressed the sentiment that the decision has been made, they're happy to just get on with the job.
"I absolutely acknowledge those who don't agree with it, particularly the former mayor of Dubbo who is continuing his crusade of not supporting the merger.
"However the overriding sentiment that I've got as I've moved around town, and particularly from the other former councillors is that they've accepted the decision and there are a lot of people out there who understand that this is in the better interest long term for both Wellington and Dubbo."
The benefits of amalgamation had been seen in 2004 with Bathurst and Evans councils, Mr Toole said.
"Having gone through that process people were nervous at the start, but having been through that process they can tell you they wouldn't want to go back," he said.
When asked if the politicians would be meting with the former councillors during their visit, Mr Toole avoided the question.
Instead he said the administrator had done a great job.
"He's only been here just under two weeks and he's been meeting with staff, meeting with former councillors, the administrator has been meeting with the community, they're getting on with business."