NSW Premier Mike Baird made the announcement on Thursday that 19 new councils had been created in NSW.

Bombala, Cooma-Monaro and Snowy River shires will be merged to create one of those 19, known as the Snowy Monaro Regional Council.

Bombala’s last mayor Bob Stewart said it came as no surprise. He said he was very disappointed, not only with the merger but with the way it had been handled.

He said there was very little communication from the state government to councils regarding the amalgamations.

“It’s typical of this government,” he said. “There has been virtually no communication.

“I’m concerned about the potential loss of jobs. I'd expect jobs from this council would go to the larger centre. That is something that will be felt throughout this community,” Mayor Stewart said.

However while Cooma/Monaro Mayor Dean Lynch is the last person to hold the title following the amalgamation announcement he was more upbeat about the merger.

“I am very much in favour of amalgamations,” he said prior to Thursday’s announcement.

He supports the change because he said in his seven years at Mayor he has seen too many inefficiencies in local government.

“Bring it on. For too long the councils in Eden-Monaro been competing against each other for essentially the same money.

“It has been ridiculous here in Eden-Monaro, we really are a region,” he said.

Councillor Lynch said he thought fear of change was the main reason people in the region were against amalgamation.