Councillor Jones, who attended the NSW Local Government Conference last week, understands IPART has recommended Wellington combine with Orange, Cabonne and Blayney councils to form a super council.

The information was part of IPART’s assessment, handed down to the state government on Friday. 

“That proposal was never mentioned. It was completely out of the blue,” she said.

Cr Jones says she is deeply concerned with the recommendation. 

"At the moment there are three options: Wellington as a stand-alone, amalgamating with Narromine and Dubbo and now this new recommendation,” she said.

"Our community interest is not with Orange, it’s with Dubbo.’’

It is understood Orange mayor John Davis is aware of the recommendation, but was unavailable for comment on Sunday. 

Dubbo mayor Matt Dickerson said he had not heard about the recommendation, but his council would deal with any options  put forward. He believes Dubbo, Wellington and Narromine can stand alone.

“You can speculate a lot on these rumours but you shouldn’t waste your time and energy on these,” he said.

“We have put our case forward that we want to stand alone and this has been echoed by Wellington and Narromine, who want to do the same.

The Deputy Premier Troy Grant has assured us he will support the councils and back us all the way. 

“All we want to do is get on with fantastic local government and I am sure that's what the other councils want to do.” 

Cr Jones believes a merger with Orange taking the leading hand would not suit Wellington. 

"They are a city, what understanding do they have of the things that we find important? You can’t expect rural councils and city councils to just combine and have an understanding of one another,” she said.

Cr Jones said some councillors jeered Local Government Minister Paul Toole at last week’s conference.

“The minister was there and the premier was there and they made it clear, irrespective of what the community wants, they are forging ahead,” she said.