In March last year, Dubbo decided not to join forces with Gilgandra, Narromine, Warren, Bogan, Warrumbungle and Mid Western Regional councils to form the JO.

The organisations were formed to work on joint projects but Dubbo council was against singing up because of the unknown costs. Councillors also raised concerns about the JO not including far west councils.

But last month, Dubbo mayor Ben Shields lead the charge for Dubbo to reconsider.

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Orana JO chair and Narromine Shire mayor Craig Davies welcomed the prospect of Dubbo joining them and said there were a number of initiatives that would benefit as JO proposals, including the pipeline from Burrendog Dam out west.

"We're not just interested in ourselves, we're interested in the region and if Dubbo wanted to be apart of that the door's open, all they've got to do is knock and they will be invited in," he said.

"We are very much looking to [the pipeline] proposal to be a mainstay of the JO going forward because it's not just Dubbo that's involved in that project, but goes through Narromine to Trangie, to Nyngan, Cobar and Bourke have also indicated at getting involved," he said.

It's expected to cost $40 million for the pipeline to go from Burrendong Dam to Wellington and another $60 million for it to reach Dubbo.

But Cr Davis said re-joining the group of councils would require Dubbo to pick up the costs member councils have had to endure.

"It's the current members who have taken the JO forward and have organised it to the extent that we have a constitution, we have branding, we have recognition and we're operating," he said.

"So for someone new to come in I don't think its at all onerous to ask for a pro rata contribution that will bring them in line with the councils who have contributed to date."

The move has yet to be made official but Local Government Minister Shelley Hancock remains "optimistic" about Dubbo uniting with the Orana JO.

"One of the requests I had early on when I took over this ministry, was for Dubbo to join the Orana JO," she said.

"So discussions right at the start have been really fruitful, and what I think will happen is that they will join.

"There's been some frictions around that, but we want some harmonious discussions and collaboration around that JO. It will work well and I'm really optimistic."

Dubbo council also resisted joining the JO because it would have been unable to leave if it didn't work. But Ms Hancock has since said when the organisations are reviewed in mid-2020 council would have the chance to get out.

Cr Shields said in the current drought, councils needed to work together.

"We do know that we are in the most unprecedented drought in the history of this country, or at least since white settlement. We need to make sure that water is continually available and it is viable for consumption for our population. The best way we can do that is to form an alliance with our councils downstream of the Macquarie River," he said.

The mayor said the water crisis was a great opportunity for councils to be one voice to to lobby and argue for government assistance.