Cr Charlie Sheahan put up the original motion, which was based on an item carried at the Local Government NSW Conference held in November at Albury.

Cr Sheahan said he wanted to protect the integrity of councils which had been put at risk.

"It was a process that took away democratic rights across local government institutions, it was designed to reduced the number of local governments; there was no other reason," he said.

"For metropolitan councils, I don't give a stuff, because they wouldn't even know who their mayor was half the time.

"What happens in rural communities is entirely different; rural communities need that autonomous authority and direction."

Mayor Abb McAlister said he was not opposed to allowing a vote by residents on a demerger.

If the opportunity comes along for councils to demerge, I cant see why we shouldn't give the opportunity to the people to have the say, he said.

At the same time, I'm here to work to keep the council together.

Cr Gil Kelly warned that the merger had come with $20 million in additional funds for significant projects in the community.

The motion called on the council to give solidarity with the people of Gundagai as they seek to demerge from a forcibly amalgamated council.

It also called for the council to support any other communities that seek to demerge from a forced amalgamation, and to prevent forced amalgamations of councils or significant boundary alterations without the support of a plebiscite.

Cr Leigh Bowden moved an amendment, saying the original motion doesn't do much and called for the council to lobby for a change to the Local Government Act.