Tas council mergers up for discussion

The Tasmanian government will start talks with the state's 29 councils with a view to merge some of the local authorities.

A week after local government elections on the island, mayors across the state have been invited to meetings hosted by Local Government Minister Peter Gutwein.

"I've had informal approaches from around a dozen councils asking for a conversation on voluntary amalgamations and we are happy to have that conversation," Mr Gutwein said in a statement on Wednesday.

There will be no forced amalgamations and any change will have to be in the best interest of ratepayers, he said.

Mayors are being urged to consult with their communities ahead of three meetings, due to be held by the end of January.

"There is no doubt there has been a shift in community perceptions around the need for structural reform in local government," Mr Gutwein said.

Tasmanian councils manage infrastructure worth in excess of $6.5 billion, employ some 3500 people and collect about $400 million in rates each year.