New South Wales premier-in-waiting Gladys Berejiklian is likely to be the state's next premier, but she is already facing pressure from the Deputy Premier to scrap council mergers in regional areas.

Ms Berejiklian is the only person to put her hand up for the top job, after Transport Minster Andrew Constance bowed out of the race today and offered her his full support.

Deputy Premier John Barilaro has used Premier Mike Baird's resignation yesterday as an opportunity to wipe the slate clean for the coalition.

This includes a demand to end forced council amalgamations in regional NSW.

The Nationals leader, who took over from Troy Grant in November after the party lost the previously safe seat of Orange, said they would no longer be taken for granted.

"We will no longer be forcing local government mergers and that will be the first course of business," Mr Barilaro said.

"I want to make it absolutely clear to the incoming leader of the NSW Liberals and that is that the NSW Nationals no longer will be taken for granted.

"Today I draw the line in the sand that the NSW Nationals won't just accept the crumbs from the Liberal party table."

Nationals have listened to rural communities: Local councils

In addition to the racing ban on greyhounds, council amalgamations was a pivotal issue that led to the Nationals losing the key seat of Orange in the state's Central West.

The Mayor of Cabonne, one of the councils scheduled to merge with Orange City under the plan, said he hoped Mr Barilaro's comments were a sign the concerns of country people had been heard.

"We did try to represent our ratepayers to the best of our abilities and it's great to have that vindication that what we did was the right thing," Mayor Ian Gosper said

In the state's Central West Cabonne is one of two councils taking legal action against the mergers, with Oberon Council also in court to stop its amalgamation with Bathurst.

The Mayor of Oberon Kathy Sajowitz said the announcement showed Mr Barilaro had listened to rural communities.

"I'm very heartened by the release of such a strong statement from the Deputy Premier, but I have to say what follow up action is taken by Mr Barilaro and the outcome of his resolve will really test him as a leader," Ms Sajowitz said.

The Mayor of Orange John Davis said his council just wanted the issue to be resolved.

"We'd certainly like the court cases to be over and finally come up with a decision," Mr Davis said.

Meanwhile Bathurst Council said it had accepted the State Government's council reforms program.

Mike Baird's second in charge Gladys Berejiklian is the only person running for the Liberal leadership. ( AAP: Daniel Munoz )

Coalition agreement a 'blank piece of paper'

Mr Barilaro said he would be going to the Liberal Party with some "significant demands".

He said the coalition agreement between the Nationals and the Liberals was a blank piece of paper as of today, and that he considered everything up for debate.

He also demanded that the Government delivered on the commitment of 30 per cent of funding being spent in regional areas.

He said that figure was currently at 10 per cent.

Mr Barilaro insisted that he was not angry with Premier Mike Baird, and that the two parties would continue into the future united.

"[But] you can't have one party of that coalition feeling left behind," he said.

"That has been the sense and the feeling in regional communities and today is an opportunity for the NSW Nationals to take this moment to reset for NSW."

Mr Barilaro would not comment on the leadership, but said he was happy to work with a Premier who honoured the Nationals role and rights as a partner in the coalition.

He added that the Nationals would not surrender any of their Cabinet positions.

"If they want to take advantage of this new opportunity to strengthen ties I'd encourage that, if they want to resist we'll continue to have our fight internally to make sure that we deliver," he said.

"The Nationals will not walk away from our fair share."