Kiama Council Chambers.
The NSW government has been warned that any "foolish" plan to amalgamate local councils would be met with the same opposition as seen in Queensland, where four councils have voted to undo mergers.
Residents in the Queensland shires of Douglas, Mareeba, Livingstone and Noosa on Saturday voted in favour of reversing the amalgamations that were forced on them by the Queensland government five years ago.
Save Our Strathfield - a Sydney community group opposed to council amalgamations - says the events in Queensland have proven how foolish it is for state governments to ignore the will of communities.
MORE: Pay rise incentive for merger, mayor warns
"The O'Farrell government should be paying very careful attention to what happened in Queensland over the weekend, because it contains powerful lessons for them," the group's co-chair, Nella Gaughan, said.
The cost of the de-amalgamation will be met by ratepayers. Queensland Treasury Corporation estimates it will amount to $13.7 million for Noosa, $10 million for Livingstone, $8.2 million for Mareeba and $8.1 million for Douglas.
The United Services Union said the Queensland results should act as a warning to business groups.
"Residents understand that the whole purpose of council mergers is to create a honey pot of fat contracts for large corporate interests," USU general secretary Graeme Kelly said. AAP