In budget estimate hearings at the NSW Parliament this week, Minister for Local Government Shelley Hancock said she had visited Tumut "many times" in the past, but refused to say she would visit Tumbarumba before making a decision on whether to allow Snowy Valleys Council to de-merge.

"At the moment I have been meeting with as many councils, joint organisations and mayors as I can in every free moment that I have," Ms Hancock told the hearing.

"But, in fact, I have not been to Tumbarumba. I have been to, obviously, Tumut many times.

"I have been to Cootamundra and Gundagai. I am listening to their views; I am aware of their views. They transmit to me their views both by media and by other avenues

"I have said to you and I will continue to say that I will listen to the views of those residents and take them into consideration when making my decision.

Neil Hamilton from the Save Tumbarumba Shire group said he was "prepared to get in the car and go up to Sydney to meet her tomorrow".

Dr Hamilton said the group had been asking for a meeting with the minister for months.

"I think we have made it very clear that the current situation isn't working and it's getting worse," he said.

"I would argue that it's in the minister's interests to listen to the community and to start to realise the best thing she can do is to make a decision to de-merge the council.

"The difficulty at the moment is that she said she going to make a decision 'sooner or later' - I can't remember her exact words - but she hasn't actually talked to us.

"She doesn't know what the issues are, despite the fact we have put in complaint after complaint after complaint. She hasn't responded to those, yet they have been with her for months.

"She hasn't bothered to talk to the community. Come and talk to us, or let us come and talk to you and then you might understand how bad things are."

Opposition spokesman for local government Greg Warren said "one of the worst examples" of the government's forced mergers policy was in the Snowy Valleys.

"Despite being one of the most financially viable councils in the state, the government forced Tumbarumba to merge with Tumut - forming the Snowy Valleys Council," he said.

"Since the forced merger, a significant portion of the Tumbarumba community has pushed for a de-merger but to no avail.

"The minister said the issues of de-mergers was a matter she would 'decide upon in the coming weeks and months'. To date, the minister has refused to visit Tumbarumba.

"She said she would visit Tumbarumba before making a decision on the de-merger only 'if time permits'.

"How can the minister expect to make to make a decision in the best interests of the community of Tumbarumba if she won't even meet with the residents?"

In a statement to The Daily Advertiser, Ms Hancock said: "The community deserves more than just Labor's games. Mr Warren is a political opportunist feigning concern about the bush, when the political winds suit.

"I am committed to ensuring the best possible outcome for the residents of the Snowy Valleys Council.

"My priority is to support councils to deliver services and infrastructure to their residents.

"Any de-merger proposal I receive is given due consideration and assessed against all the requirements under the Local Government Act.