Mr Coombs, a former Laggan resident, was a member of the very first Upper Lachlan Shire Council in 2004 when the two previous councils of Gunning and Crookwell were merged.

He served just one term from 2004, and was unsuccessful when he stood again in 2008.

Before joining Upper Lachlan Shire Council, Mr Coombs had been national secretary of the Maritime Union of Australia and had played a key role in the 1998 Patrick waterfront dispute.

Mr Coombs has been remembered by three Upper Lachlan mayors, past and present, for his many efforts and achievements both locally and on the national stage.

"Like many people throughout Australia, our local community is mourning the news of John Coomb's passing," Mayor Cr John Stafford said.

"John was such a great contributor to society on so many levels. He contributed a great deal locally, not the least of which, as a Councillor and his leadership of his Union in one of Australia's biggest industrial disputes is legendary.

"Our sincere condolences go out to John's family and many friends."

Councillor Brian McCormack OAM, who was the first mayor of the Upper Lachlan Shire after acting as administrator through the merger, said that he was quite fond of Mr Coombs and they grew to be friends, but that it had a shaky start.

"He tried to do things the way he'd done them in waterfront disputes but he soon learned that local Council is very different from dealing with waterside workers," Cr McCormack said.

"I remember very well an early meeting at Taralga when he tried to lay down the law and he got short shrift there. But over the course of his term he really grew into the job and was a very good councillor, with a passion for the people and a particular aptitude for the financials."

Another former mayor, John Shaw, also served with Mr Coombs from 2004-2008 and described him as a man of strong convictions.

"He was a very knowledgeable man and very passionate in his beliefs to do with Council, and he was very committed to the role of councillor," Mr Shaw said.

"It was a time when Wind Farms were very controversial, and he had strong opinions about those... and I remember he was also not a fan of chook farms which were being proposed at the time.

"John Coombs came to the job with a high profile and some people didn't like him because their political views were different to his, but he worked very well with his fellow councillors and I found him easy to work with and easy to get along with."

Mr Coombs is survived by his wife, Gwen and family.