Dubbo Regional Council (DRC) held the February Committee meetings at 5:30pm on Thursday 10 February 2022 at the Dubbo Council Chambers, where a chairperson was elected unopposed to each committee as follows:
- Infrastructure, Planning and Environment Committee: Cr Josh Black
- Culture and Economy Committee: Cr Jess Gough
- Corporate Services Committee: Cr Damien Mahon
A number of agenda items were noted from each committee, including:
Update on reconstruction of Old Mendooran Road and Boothenba Road intersection:
The report of Manager of Infrastructure Strategy and Design was noted which contained recommendations, including:
- That funding options for the detailed design be identified with a focus on seeking external funding sources or alternatively prioritised for funding in Quarterly Budget Reviews.
- That, once a funding source is identified, Council commence the detailed design process and preparation of construction plans associated with the reconstruction of Old Mendooran Road and Boothenba Road intersection.
- That upon the completion and preparation of detailed construction plans, a detailed cost estimate of construction works be prepared.
Mayor Mathew Dickerson acknowledged the community interest surrounding the intersection. "This has been a problem area and there have been some serious accidents there resulting in fatalities," said Mayor Dickerson. "The last council did start the process to change this intersection…this is following on from that process and we'll get to that point where we can make that intersection safer."
Building summary – December 2021 and January 2022
The report of the Director Development and Environment was noted, which contained the following building summary for development approvals:
December 2021: 'Single dwellings' – 39, 'Other residential development' – 7, 'No. of units' – 11
January 2022: 'Single dwellings' – 5, 'Other residential development' – 7, 'No. of units' – 9
It was noted the value of applications was $186M for the financial year-to-date, compared to $112M for the same period last year.
Naming of thoroughfares on the former RAAF Base Depot
DRC approved proposed public road names submitted for the former RAAF Base depot, which included Spitfire Drive, Hercules Road and Tiger Moth Circuit. The following road names were approved for future development of the site – Dragonfly, Meteor, Vampire, Sabre and Skymaster.
Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program phase 3:
Council received just under $4.3M from the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications under the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program, Round 3.
Councillors determined the following projects be submitted for approval:
- Wheelers Lane Road Rehabilitation Works: To provide a smoother running surface with high skid resistance - $1,500,000.
- Ollie Robbins Oval Event Precinct: Construction of an elevated substation platform - $400,000.
- Eulaline Lane, Arthurville: Sealing gravel road - $1,468,000.
- Tracker Riley and Riverside Path Network: Wayfinding signage - $250,000.
- Old Dubbo Gaol Heritage Plaza Infrastructure Upgrades: Substation replacement - $400,000.
- Gisborne Street, Wellington: Shoulder Sealing Works - $274,996.
Mayor Dickerson noted there was about $4.3M being spent, with about $1.7M going to projects within the former Wellington LGA.
Draft Council Policy: Maintenance of nature strips and laneways
Councillors determined to extend the public exhibition period to 42 days, for the draft maintenance of nature strips and laneways policy.
The policy is being placed on public exhibition because Council cannot maintain all nature strips and laneways across the LGA and proposes to look to adjoining landowners to maintain their interface with those portions of public land. This is consistent with the vast majority of councils across the country.
DRC Manager Operation Craig Arms made a presentation to outline the mowing and maintenance works undertaken by the public open space team, which manage more than 1000 hectares of open space in the LGA and slash the equivalent of 48 Victoria Parks.
A number of reports were noted during the Corporate Services Committee Meeting, including the Quarterly Report on documents executed under power of attorney, the Councillor workshop schedule and Investment.
All business papers from Thursday's meeting are available online at Council's dedicated webpage Council Meetings
