Media releases

Council has announced the Wongarbon sewerage scheme has been completed well ahead of schedule.

The newly named Wongarbon Sewerage Treatment Plant, constructed on Council’s property ‘Pine Avon’ is operational and ready to accept sewage.

Director Technical Services Stewart McLeod said the scheme was due to be signed off in December.

“Residents will be individually advised by letter that the treatment plant is ready and they will have 12 months to arrange connection,” Mr McLeod said.

“Householders must of course use a licensed plumber and this will provide a boost for local plumbing companies.

“The project comprises reticulation within the village to collect the sewage, as well as a treatment facility on Pine Avon,” he said.

“Council plans to use the treated effluent within the village, irrigating parks and open space such as Centenary Park,”

“Council has decided to use subsurface irrigation on the parks with the treated effluent distributed via a network of below ground ‘leaky’ pipes; this method ensures the public open space will always be available for users.”

Normal sewerage charges will commence on 1 January 2010.

These charges will be raised for every property in the sewered areas, whether or not the property has connected to the scheme.

MEDIA CONTACT: Mr Stewart McLeod, Director Technical Services 6801 4000.

Council’s Mayor Allan Smith, Deputy Mayor Rod Towney, Cr Peter Bartley and General Manager Mark Riley have finalised negotiations and signed a contract with Dubbo City Development Corporation (DCDC), for a six months interim period.

During the contract term, for which the Corporation will be paid on a monthly basis in advance, a total fee of $130,000 for the provision of economic development services, Council will consider its future directions in respect of the delivery of the development program and whether the services should be put out to tender.

The contract provides that the DCDC undertakes the provision of services originally identified in the Grow Dubbo Economic Development Strategy – Update 2008.

Dubbo Mayor Cr Allan Smith said the contract contained a number of stringent Key Performance Indicators that the corporation must meet.

“The contract requires the provision of monthly data to Council that details what development work has been done by the DCDC and what has been achieved,” Cr Smith said.

“The corporation is also required to make an informal presentation to Councillors in February 2010 and report formally in April,”

Cr Smith said the contract will ensure vital development services are provided while Council plans for a program beyond mid-2010.

“Council has resolved that the economic development program should continue, in the City’s interest, over the six months interim period and that DCDC was best placed to provide those services.”

MEDIA CONTACT: Mayor Allan Smith, (02) 6801 4101 or 0418 639 053.

Residents have until the middle of next week to comment on proposed Water/Sewerage Customer Service Levels developed by Council.

The draft levels were set following the annual survey of Water Supply and Sewerage customers in the City.

Council’s Director Technical Services Stewart McLeod said the proposed levels for 2010/2011 will remain on public exhibition until 5pm Wednesday 2 December.

“The documents clearly set-out the service levels our customers can expect in 2010/11 and will be the driving force behind our operating plan,” said Mr McLeod.

“They will also be critical to asset maintenance and the procurement of new assets,”

“After the closure of the public exhibition period Council will formally consider written submissions, and then formally adopt Customer Service Levels.”

When the Levels are adopted they will be used by Council’s engineers engaged in planning for operation and infrastructure work over the next financial year.

MEDIA CONTACT: Mr Stewart McLeod, Director Technical Services 6801 4000.

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.

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.