On Tuesday NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced all mergers which had already been undertaken would remain, Sydney amalgamations would proceed, and council amalgamations yet to occur in regional areas would be halted.

For Dubbo, it means no reversal of the amalgamation, while the proposed amalgamation of Orange City Council, Cabonne Council and Blayney Shire Council will not go ahead. Bathurst Regional and Oberon councils have also escaped amalgamation.

“Our regional city, towns and villages are now working together like never before,” Mr Grant said in a statement on Wednesday.

“The Dubbo electorate communities were forgotten by the former Labor Government but it is now safe to say, that is no longer the case. We are now a priority and have a local government structure that will see us become a regional economic powerhouse, which is something that we can all be proud of.”

The Dubbo MP said he welcomed confirmations that council elections would be held in September, and urged all candidates who were considering running to put the future of the community first.

“We want to see Dubbo Regional Council as the envy of regional NSW,” he said.

The idea of halting the regional council mergers while letting the metropolitan council amalgamations go forward has been slammed by NSW Local Government president Keith Rhoades.

Mr Rhoades said it would simply create bitterness.

"It's a lost opportunity to further draw a line under the disruption and upheaval of the past two years,” Cr Rhoades said.

"But most importantly, it will delay progress on the real issues facing all councils - amalgamated or otherwise - financial sustainability, stronger governance and greater capability in local government."

Dubbo and Wellington councils voted against taking the amalgamation decision to court due to the high cost.