Mr Foley was in Kiama on Tuesday to show his support for the Kiama push to avoid a merger with Shoalhaven.

The Opposition leader said a Labor government would not leave merged councils untouched.

‘‘I put this to (Mike) Baird on notice, where you force through mergers against  the wishes of local residents, the next Labor government will put in place a process to allow those local residents to determine their own futures,” Mr Foley said.

“If that involves local residents voting to restore an independent Kiama Council then that is what Labor will do in government.”

Mr Foley met with residents and Kiama Mayor Brian Petschler to hear about their concerns.

“Kiama’s identity matters, it shouldn’t be governed from Nowra,” he said.

“Local government should be exactly that – local.”