On Friday, Deputy Premier John Barilaro, Cootamundra MP Steph Cooke, and Wagga-based MLC Wes Fang voiced their support for a demerger, throwing their lot in with Labor and the Greens.

It was a shock announcement for Save Gundagai Shire campaigner John Knight, who said it gave him hope that a demerger might be possible after all.

"I have been quite pessimistic, but now that Barilaro and Cooke have actually come out and actively supported us as opposed to only expressing support in the backroom, it has given me a degree of confidence we might be at the end of this nightmare," Mr Knight said.

"It's now time for them to take the next step and make this happen quickly before the council elections in September and, if necessary, force the Liberal Party down this route."

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Mr Knight said Mr Barilaro had privately told residents he supported a demerger years ago, but had only publicly come out against the government on Friday.

Cootamundra-Gundagai mayor Abb McAlister said the support was better late than never, since the merger had already cost ratepayers about $28 million and counting.

"They're starting to see reason," Councillor McAlister said.

"It's good to see that John Barilaro is seeing the concerns of the merger and is agreeing with our cause."

Mr Barilaro said he thought the merger should never have been implemented in the first place.

"It hasn't worked and the communities of Cootamundra and Gundagai have made it very clear they want to see their council demerged," Mr Barilaro said.

"Had we listened to communities at the beginning of the council merger process way back in 2016, I can guarantee we wouldn't be here."

Ms Cooke said she had raised the community's complaints with the government "time and again" since she was elected in 2017.

"With the unwavering support of Deputy Premier John Barilaro, I fought hard for this amalgamation to be reviewed by the Local Government Boundaries Commission and have been calling for their report to be made public since February," she said.

"While councillors and staff have tried to make this merger succeed, there is no doubt it is hurting our communities."

Mr Fang said he wanted to see the boundaries commission released, and its findings followed by the government.

"The Deputy Premier, the Member for Cootamundra and I, as members of The Nationals in Parliament have long been advocating for the release of the report from the Minister for Local Government's office," Mr Fang said.

"We want it released to provide transparency for our communities."

Local Government shadow minister Greg Warran said he was pleased to see Mr Barilaro's change of tune.

"I welcome the Deputy Premier and NSW National leader's change in heart - it is better late than never," Mr Warran said.

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