Orange mayor responds top merger decision

Orange mayor John Davis has responded to the NSW Government decision to put a halt to council mergers in regional areas.

Mayor Davis said the council had always supported government government policy on amalgamations.

"Our decision was to support the government," Cr John Davis told reporters at a media conference called after the announcement 14 February. "If they were going to have amalgamation, we would be in tent."

He said he was disappointed and surprised by the decision.

"I think that Blayney and Cabonne and ourselves in partnership could have been a power-house in the future. We could have got more grant funding, more projects."

"We operate as a region now, however without a structured one-piece organisation."

"Disappointing, but let's move on and let's see what we can do."