On Tuesday 3 October 2023 Minister for Local Government Ron Hoenig announced the NSW Government will support Cootamundra Gundagai Regional Council to demerge providing two councils can be established that are sustainable and financially viable.

The Minister’s announcement notes the existing process for the de-amalgamation of Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council under section 218CC of the Local Government Act would not proceed. Instead, the Minister announced a new pathway would be pursued empowering the council to take ownership of the demerger process which is possible under sections 204 and 212 of the Act.