Media releases

Photo opportunity: Dubbo Senior Campus, 2pm, Friday 27 November

Education exchanges will be at the top of the agenda when Dubbo plays host to a group of Sister City delegates from Wujiang, China this week.

Arriving on Thursday, 26 November, the group is composed of Wujiang Parliament Deputy Chair Mr Qian Helin, Wujiang Supervisory Bureau Director Mr Chen Zhenlin and Mr Li Weigen of the Wujiang Bureau of Letters and Calls along with their interpreter Mrs Zen Jianhong.

Their whistlestop visit will take in the sights and major attractions of the City, along with education facilities.

Dubbo Mayor Allan Smith was pleased to be hosting the delegation and enhancing Sister City relations.

“It is wonderful to be welcoming our guests from Wujiang and continuing friendship and understanding between our two Cities,” he said.

The Dubbo trip will include a Zoo encounter, farm visit and tours of Dubbo Senior Campus and Western Plains Cultural Centre.

“Education exchanges will be one of the items discussed,” Cr Smith said.

“We will also discuss plans for the 15th anniversary of the Sister City agreement, which falls next year.”

The Mayor will also host a special dinner on Thursday night to officially welcome the visitors.

Wujiang is located in Jiangsu Province at the golden triangle of Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shanghai. It has a population of 780,000 including nine towns. Crisscrossed by rivers, canals and lakes, it has been dubbed the ‘Venice of the East.’

Dubbo and Wuijang became Sister Cities on 7 June 1995.

MEDIA CONTACT:  Dubbo City Council’s Sister City Officer Kylie Sutherland, 0447 445 472.

The railway crossings in Purvis Lane and Boothenba Road are set to be upgraded to include boom gates, flashing lights and bells, with work starting on 25 November. This will also allow the removal of current stop signs.

The Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) is undertaking the work, which has been funded by the Federal Government.

 

Council roadworks on the approaches to the Purvis Lane rail level crossing will begin this Wednesday. Roadworks on the approaches to Boothenba Road rail level crossing will begin on Thursday 26 November. Work at both sites will continue for approximately two weeks – weather-permitting. Traffic movements in the vicinity of the rail crossings will be reduced to one lane during work hours.

From 12 to 15 December inclusive, the Purvis Lane level crossing will be temporarily closed to all traffic. All access to the North Dubbo Industrial area will be via Yarrandale Road. Vehicles including B-double and road trains will be redirected using appropriate signage.

Every effort will be made to minimise disruptions at these times.

For further information please contact Robert Flakelar, Operations Engineer on telephone 6801 4000.

MEDIA CONTACT:

MEDIA CONTACT: For further information, please contact Manager Works Services Ian Bailey on (02) 6801 4000.

 

Dubbo City Council has announced that an arrangement with Odessey Ice Sports to establish a temporary ice rink in the City over summer will not be proceeding.

Council has said it offered a standard commercial agreement to Odessey to operate the facility, but they decided to go elsewhere.

Council voted in October to offer the Centennial Pavilion at Dubbo Showground to the company, but Odessey elected to choose another location.

Director of Corporate Development Megan Dixon said Council was disappointed that Odessey had made a business decision not to go ahead.

“Council did everything it could to work with the company through the licensing process, but in the end they decided to go to another city and we wish them well.”

 

MEDIA ENQUIRIES: Dubbo City Council's Director Corporate Development, Megan Dixon, 0409 151 828.

MONTHLY COUNCIL MEETING

 

Dubbo City Council has resolved to approach the NSW Government not to reduce the 110 km/h speed limit on the Newell Highway.

The Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) plans to drop the speed limit to 100 km/h from 1 December.

Mayor Cr Allan Smith said Council voted at its monthly meeting last night to formally write to the NSW Minister for Transport and the Director General of the RTA.

“It will be a formal request objecting to the reduction of the speed limit on the Highway and follows similar requests from interested parties along the Newell,” Cr Smith said.

“The action supplements correspondence already forwarded to Dubbo MP Dawn Fardell and the NSW Police Minister.”

The RTA was this week due to begin removing 110 km/h speed markings on the road surface of the Newell Highway and start installing electronic message signs to warn motorists of the impending change.

MEDIA CONTACT: For further information, please contact Dubbo Mayor Allan Smith on (02) 6801 4101.

The seven regional cities in the Evocities partnership, which include Dubbo, have announced the appointment of a company to entice Sydney-siders to live, work and invest in one of the Evocities

Marketing, research and project management company, Prophisee, will be project manager for the implementation of the major campaign.

Council Director Corporate Development Megan Dixon said the group is pleased to appoint Prophisee to the role, and believe their experience will ensure the Evocities campaign delivers maximum return on investment and effort within the Sydney marketplace.

“Partnering with Prophisee, we believe, will provide the best foundation for a successful campaign, ensuring as wide an audience as possible knows that inland regional cities like Dubbo are vibrant progressive centres with excellent job prospects and a great lifestyle,”  Ms Dixon said.

The seven Evocities - Albury, Armidale, Bathurst, Dubbo, Orange, Tamworth and Wagga Wagga – secured Australian Government Funding of $1.2m in July 2009 in addition to each Council’s contribution of $40,000 per year for three years to develop and deliver an innovative, collaborative marketing campaign.

Prophisee is an Australian owned marketing, research and project management company with a diverse Australian and international client list.

The company was founded by brand strategist and researcher Catherine Jolley who was part of the team that developed the original “You’ll love every piece of Victoria campaign".

MEDIA CONTACT: Ms Megan Dixon, Director Corporate Development 0409 151 828.

 

Household chemical disposal will be safe and easy for local residents, thanks to a clean-up operation to be hosted by Dubbo City Council on 21 November.

Unwanted and out of date products including paint, acids, batteries and old TVs can be dropped off at the Dubbo Showground between 8.30am and 2.30pm this Saturday. 

Civil Projects Engineer Jaskaran Soni said Dubbo City Council is one of 14 councils in the Central West participating in the household hazardous chemical collection program, partnering with NetWaste and Chemsal to offer a safe and easy disposal service to residents for household chemicals.

“The program is also being held with significant support from the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water (DECCW),” Mr Soni said.

The main reason for the chemical collection is so that unwanted or unused household chemicals and hazardous products that can pose a risk to both the environment and human health are disposed of properly.

“Items that can be dropped off include paint, pesticides, used motor oil, batteries, gas bottles and pool chemicals. Up to 10 items of e-waste and one old television set will also be accepted per customer,”

The free clean-up is biannual and was last held in June 2009 where five tonnes of chemicals and three tonnes of e-waste were collected for recycling or re-treatment and safe disposal.

Residents are reminded that liquids and hazardous products should never be placed in their household wheelie bins and ensure that chemicals are securely stored for transport to the drop-off site.

Access to the collection site at the Showground is via the Wingewarra Street entrance only.

For more information, contact Council’s Customer Services Centre on 6801 4000.

MEDIA CONTACT:  Dubbo City Council’s Civil Projects Engineer Jaskaran Soni, (02) 6801 4000.