The council’s general manager Wayne Wallis met with the Labor party’s Paterson candidate on Monday.

"Giving the community a formal voice by way of plebiscite is financially restrictive for council, so we welcome the funding commitment from federal Labor and (Paterson candidate) Meryl Swanson to making it happen if they are successful on Saturday,” Mr Wallis said.

As a survivor of two council mergers Mr Wallis noted survey results where 93 per cent of Port Stephens participants opposed the Newcastle proposal.

In addition, more than 16,000 people signed a petition against a forced merger with Newcastle.

"Council has been very clear from the outset on this issue," he said.

"The first preference of our council, and this has been backed by our community, is to remain stand-alone.”

Ms Swanson said Mr Wallis clearly wanted Port Stephens residents to have their say in what had been an undemocratic process.

“Wayne has thrown Port Stephens Council’s support behind this plan, which will give Port Stephens residents a say on forced amalgamations,” she said.

“The Labor Party will deliver this ($20 million) funding and this plebiscite for the people of Port Stephens – a vote for Labor gives locals a chance to have their say on amalgamations.”

Liberal candidate for Paterson Karen Howard met with Mr Wallis in May.

Shortly after that meeting Ms Howard told the Examiner she would “continue to speak out against the Newcastle option” until it was “off the table”.

“I’m taking a pragmatic approach,” she said.

“It’s better to have a Liberal federal member negotiating when there’s a Liberal state government.”

Ms Howard said she would continue to advocate for the Dungog option if elected.

“The communities have made their voice loud and clear,” she said.

“I’ve shown leadership in speaking out against the Newcastle option though I’m support of reform otherwise.”