Ms Hodgkinson is more than 300 kilometres from her hometown in Yass, but she's in Narrandera in a tense bid to win the hearts and minds of her soon-to-be constituents.

She plays down the prospects of winning preselection in the newly formed seat of Cootamundra, but given her profile as a cabinet minister, she will likely win that battle.

Ms Hodgkinson's old seat of Burrinjuck was abolished at the last redistribution of boundary lines, prompting a feud with cabinet colleague Pru Goward when she sought preselection in Ms Goward's seat of Goulburn.

Despite two-thirds of the redrawn seat of Goulburn taking in Ms Hodgkinson's Burrinjuck, she backed down from the fight with Ms Goward and retreated to the expansively-sized Cootamundra.

"We are where we are and we're left with what we're left with," she said on Wednesday at a Department of Primary Industries function.

"We just have to get on with it and move forward."

Ms Hodgkinson said it was a "difficult" decision to run for Cootamundra, but insisted she would be able to work with Cootamundra constituents despite her months-long hesitation.

"Boundaries will change and the boundaries commission made its decision," she said.

"I spent many months consulting, but I'm very comfortable and very relaxed with the decision having been made."

However, Ms Hodgkinson stopped short of announcing she would permanently move into the seat.

"There's nothing to say at the next election there won't be another boundary redistribution so this happens to members very, very commonly," she said.

Narrandera mayor Jenny Clarke is concerned that Narrandera's voice may be lost within the electorate's vastness.

"Really it means the people that are representing the area here or anywhere have more work to do and they have to spread themselves thin," she said.

"I wouldn't say move here (Narrandera), but into the electorate would be nice." 

AS KATRINA Hodgkinson enters the battle for Cootamundra, there is a hot button issue pressing on the minds of Narrandera residents - the town's very survival.

Should Ms Hodgkinson win preselection, a bitter debate over a proposed council merger with Leeton could dominate her election campaign.

David Robinson has been in business for 18 years and is the owner of Narrandera's iconic Robinson's Department Store.

Mr Robinson said despite the electorate's size, he expects Ms Hodgkinson to fight for Narrandera's identity.

"There is 24 hours in a day - she has to burn the candle from both ends," he said.

"She's nominated to look after the electorate and it's up to her to make sure she's going to do the job."

A review of local governments recommended Narrandera merge with Leeton or join a kind of Murrumbidgee super-council to stave off declining revenue streams.

Mr Robinson said the loss of Narrandera Shire Council would have a "ricochet effect" throughout the community.

"It would be the death of this town," he said.

"Everything would be slowed right down - we'd lose the council chambers - we'd be taking out 50 families minimum.

"At the end of the day, where are these people going to go? They are going to move towards metropolitan areas."

Narrandera mayor Jenny Clarke said she was "totally opposed" to the Leeton merger.

Outgoing NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell said there would be no forced amalgamations, but Councillor Clarke said his resignation meant all bets are off the table.

"It's worrying when things like this happen," she said.

"Leeton is irrigation and we are dry land, they've got a bigger population - we won't be represented (locally)."

Ms Hodgkinson said the issue was the responsibility of local government minister Don Page, but promised to fly the flag for Narrandera.

"I think that it's important that all councils have a fair hearing," she said.