It's been revealed Dungog residents could've been left without a local councillor to represent them if the merger with Maitland Council had gone ahead.
A report to the former Local Government Minister last April has been made public which recommended the merger go ahead because the financial advantages outweighed the disadvantages.
However there was no guarantee Dungog councillors would've been part of the merged council, with the smaller shire to be completely absorbed by Maitland under the suggested amalgamation.
Earlier this month, Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced plans to merge regional councils have been scrapped.
