Mr Barilaro said he looked forward to working with the new Premier but it was time to draw a line in the sand over council amalgamations.

His comments come one day after Premier Mike Baird’s resignation announcement.

“The policy of local government amalgamations has impacted 20 councils, 12 of which are in regional NSW causing uncertainty and anger, and others are locked in costly legal action - that all stops today,” Mr Barilaro said.

Fixing the problem, he said, would be one of his first orders of business in NSW government discussions.

Port Macquarie-Hastings mayor Peter Besseling said the comments were obviously welcomed, particularly in light of consistent rumours of a forced merger of Kempsey Shire with Port Macquarie-Hastings or Nambucca.

Port Macquarie-Hastings Council remains a stand alone council.

MidCoast Council was created by the forced merger of Great Lakes, Greater Taree and Gloucester councils. 

Port Macquarie-Hastings Council general manager Craig Swift-McNair wrote to Mr Barilaro in December about mergers.

The letter referred to confirmation from the then Deputy Premier Troy Grant that there would be no more forced council amalgamations in this term of the Baird government.

“In congratulating you on your subsequent election to the position of Deputy Premier, I seek your confirmation of this commitment that there will be no more forced council amalgamations in this term of the Baird government, as announced by your predecessor,” the letter said.

The council has yet to receive a formal response to the letter.

Cr Besseling said the Deputy Premier’s public position had now been made clear.

“What impact that has for many councils forced to merge through the deliberately vague and inconsistent "Fit for the Future" process remains to be seen,” he said.

Reform of the local government sector falls under the Fit for the Future program.

Local Government NSW president Keith Rhoades said Mr Barilaro’s strong statement made it clear the Deputy Premier had not only heard but understood the community during his recent tour of regional electorates.

Cr Rhoades said LGNSW had not budged from its long-held position of supporting voluntary council mergers but opposing forced amalgamations.