Several cars of opponents and a busload of 55 will hit QEII Square with placards and banners for a rally which will coincide with Albury hosting the Local Government NSW Conference.

Residents objected to Tumbarumba Shire merging with Tumut Shire in 2016 to form Snowy Valleys Council and hostility to the marriage remains with an opposition group Save Tumbarumba Shire formed.

Its president Lucy Henderson will lead the protest.

“The aim is to show everybody at the local government conference that Tumbarumba wants to demerge, must demerge because it’s not working, this amalgamation,” Ms Henderson said.

“Our services are noticeably changing, our rates are noticeably going up.”

Ms Henderson said the group had a commitment from Opposition local government spokesman Peter Primrose for a plebiscite on a demerger if Labor wins the election in March.

She wants a similar commitment from Local Government Minister Gabrielle Upton, if she fails to agree to call made to her to reinstate the old Tumbarumba shire boundary. 

Ms Upton is due to give an address to the conference, which is being held at the Albury Entertainment Centre, on Monday afternoon.

The event opens with a ceremony at Noreuil Park on Sunday evening.

It will include an address by NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and welcome by Albury mayor Kevin Mack.

“We believe Albury is the jewel in the crown of southern NSW and we’re very much looking forward to showing visitors everything that’s great about our city,”  Cr Mack said.

“It’s also set to be a shot in the arm for local businesses with many of the delegates expected to enjoy our great restaurants, hotels and other services.”

Speakers at the forum will include Winter Olympic gold medallist Steven Bradbury whose speech is entitled Last Man Standing and Chaser comedian Craig Reucassel who will talk about waste processing.