Media releases

On Australia Day, each Dubbo resident used over one tonne (1000L) of water, according to Council’s new method for calculating individual water usage.

The new method has been introduced to communicate more meaningful information to water customers on their water consumption and create increased awareness of the personal responsibility all residents in relation to their use of water around the home.

“Australia Day, saw a peak in local water usage with each resident use approximately 1036 litres. That’s an equivalent to what could be carried in a one tonne ute, used on our lawns, gardens and inside the home” Council’s Manager Water Supply and Sewerage Geoff Bellingham said.

“With the soaring temperatures this summer, water usage has been steadily increasing and on Monday, 26 January, 2009, Council’s Water Treatment Plant delivered 42.7 mega litres of water to the community.

“Residents are reminded to use water responsibly and that currently Dubbo, Wongarbon and Brocklehurst are on Level One Water Restrictions” Mr Bellingham said.

Level One Water Restrictions are as follows:

• Watering with sprinklers only used between 6pm and 9am
• Hand held hoses, watering cans and buckets can be used at anytime
• Residents are encouraged to use pool covers when not in use
• Car washing must be done using a trigger hose and bucket
• Hard surfaces such as footpaths or driveways are not to be washed down during water restrictions

Council is encouraging residents to use water wise practices, mulching around the garden can reduce evaporation from soil by up to 70%, a few simple tips will assist in maintaining lawns and gardens:

• Don't water in the middle of the day, in windy conditions or if it is likely to rain
• Make a small dam from mulch and soil to avoid water running off the soil
• Water the roots of plants rather than the leaves, reducing windspray and evaporation
• Cool season grasses should be left longer in summer but warm season grasses such as couch and buffalo can be kept short
• Avoid cutting grass by more than a third of its length at any one time
• Replace struggling plants in autumn with drought tolerant species

More water saving tips are available on Council’s website www.dubbo.nsw.gov.au or www.savewater.com.au

MEDIA CONTACT: Dubbo City Council's Manager Water Supply and Sewerage, Geoff Bellingham, 6801 4000

• When: Sunday, 8 February, 2009 and Sunday, 15 February 2009.
• Where: Intersection of Bourke and Erskine Streets, Dubbo.
• What: Tree removal and road and footpath works.

Council will be removing nine trees near the intersection of Bourke and Erskine Streets.

The trees are being removed as part of a Council, RTA partnership project to upgrade the intersection and reconstruct the footpath and kerb in front of the Dubbo Railway Bowling Club.

The Dubbo City Railway Club kerb and guttering, which fronts Erskine Street, will be replaced and pits installed to take water from the road surface to the pipe drainage network to minimise water pooling which is a current problem for the site.

Council will be replacing the trees, where room permits, with species suitable for planting under powerlines.

The planned works will create unavoidable traffic interruptions on the two days the works will be in operation, once traffic control plans have been approved for these days, Council will publicise the details.

More traffic notices.

MEDIA CONTACT

TREE REMOVAL: Council’s Manager Parks and Landcare Operations, Murray Wood, 6801 4000.

ROAD AND FOOTPATH WORKS: Council’s Manager Works and Services, Ian Bailey, 6801 4000

Dubbo City Council's Road Safety Officer, Kristine Long, is urging Dubbo road users to be aware of an increased level of activity around local schools as the new school year begins.

“After an extended break, many drivers forget about the school zone hours and speed limits.

“It is imperative that people travelling in a school zone between 8am to 9:30am and 2:30pm to 4pm on school days stick to 40km/hr” Ms Long said.

Ms Long said that a child’s peripheral vision is not fully developed and they tend to focus directly on what they are doing such as playing with a ball or running directly to their parents across the road.

“Children don't tend to scan an environment as quickly and thoroughly as most adults do. They are more curious and are less able to determine where sounds are coming from, so they are more likely to do something unpredictable” Ms Long said.

Ms Long advises parents to be effective road safety role models as early in their child's life as possible.

“One of the worst things you can do in regard to road safety is to park on the opposite side of a road and call a child to run to the car. People collecting children from school need to park the car in a designated parking zone and walk to greet the child.

“It is important to teach children how to cross the road safely at a pedestrian refuge or crossing, and hold their hand to guide them across the road” Ms Long said.

Many children will be riding their bikes to school this New Year and Ms Long reiterated the importance of bike safety. Children are required by law to wear bicycle helmets and parents should make certain children know cycling road rules before allowing children to ride to school.

If parents need more information about teaching their children road safety practices, contact Kristine Long on 6881 4000 or log on to www.rta.nsw.gov.au

MEDIA CONTACT: Dubbo City Council's Road Safety Officer, Kristine Long, 6801 4000.

A major project earmarked for funding under the federal government’s Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Program may become a reality by September 2009

At its December 2008 meeting, Council determined that $340,000 of the $1,058,000 funding would be allocated toward the proposed Rail Trail Cycleway – pending final approval from the federal government.

The project would see an extension of the Tracker Riley Cycleway with the construction of a 2.5km pathway along the Obley Road to the future location of a bridge across the Macquarie River – just downstream of Dundullimal.

Mayor Greg Matthews said the cycleway would be paved gravel rather than concrete.

“The cost difference between gravel paved cycleway and concrete is around $700,000,’’ he said.

“Feedback from bicycle user groups indicates they would accept gravel cycleways over concrete as a trade-off for being able to see more kilometres of cycleway constructed in Dubbo sooner rather than later, depending on funding availability.’’

Cr Matthews said the current 3.6km concrete Tracker Riley Cycleway, which is 2.5m wide, includes two bridges and leads to Dundullimal Homestead.

“This pathway is immensely popular with local residents, many of which travel from all over the City to use it. Visitors also make use of the cycleway as the Zoo is designed to be toured by bicycle.

“An extension to this cycleway would be the natural progression, providing even more opportunities for bike users and those who use the track for walking and exercise.’’

Fast fact

Tracker Riley was a famous Aboriginal police hero responsible for solving many murders and mysteries in the 1930s and 40s and a talented athlete who trained cyclists, sprinters and swimmers.

PHOTO OPPORTUNITY: Mayor Greg Matthews 12pm, TODAY, Wednesday 21 January, at the end of the Tracker Riley Cycleway, across from Taronga Western Plains Zoo.

MEDIA CONTACT: Mayor Greg Matthews can be contacted on 0418 639 053.

Planet Ark Co-founder and Chairman, Jon Dee will be in Dubbo to help celebrate Australia Day on Monday, 26 January.

Mr Dee has devoted over 20 years as an Environmental Campaigner and created initiatives like, ‘World Environment News’, the world’s leading environmental news service, Planet Ark recycling programs and Australia’s ‘National Recycling Week’.

For Monday, Mr Dee will be Dubbo’s Australia Day Ambassador.

“Dubbo is lucky to have such a passionate and influential man as its Ambassador,” Australia Day Co-ordinator, Michael Ferguson said.

“Mr Dee’s address will definitely be one highlight of the Australia Day Celebrations.”

Celebrations will be from 8:30am at Victoria Park with the official ceremony commencing at 9am. The ceremony will include raising the Australian flag, the National Anthem and an address given by Mayor Greg Matthews.

Three residents will also be given citizenship on the day and awards will be presented for 2009s Sportsperson of the year, Services to Sport, Young Sportsperson, Young Citizen of the year and Citizen of the year.

The whole family is invited to attend with activities for the kids including jumping castles and Pooka the Clown magic show.

There will also be a sausage sizzle and free entry to the Dubbo Aquatic Centre from 11am til noon.

MEDIA CONTACT: Council’s Australia Day Co-ordinator, Mr Michael Ferguson, 6801 4000.

Dubbo City Council approved a development application from Dr George Albert and Bahgat Gerges to operate medical consulting rooms on the corner of Carnegie Ave and Baird Dr, West Dubbo, in June 2006 – despite receiving three objections to the development.

The development application as submitted by doctors Albert and Gerges was for:

• Six consulting rooms with three medical practitioners
• Treatment and preparation room
• Waiting/ administration room
• Staff and patient amenities

Director Environmental Services Melissa Watkins said that this approval now means that we have an extra 3 places for doctors in the City.

“Not only is the current site of the Central West Medical Practice approved for medical services but the site in West Dubbo has also been approved, this makes it possible for three more doctors to operate in the City” Ms Watkins said.

The property Dr Albert looked to operate the proposed medical consulting rooms from in West Dubbo, is currently zoned Residential Suburban under the Local Environmental Plan (LEP). Medical consulting rooms are only permissible under the LEP if they are a within 200m of the City CBD or a neighbourhood business zone, such as the Minore Rd shopping centre site.

“Prior to the lodgement of the development application Council had numerous meetings with the applicants and their zone consultants to ensure they understood the constraints of operating in a residential zone. This included the strict condition that a maximum of four employees can be working in the building at any one time.

“The consulting rooms could therefore employ more than three doctors but only three would be permissible to be working in the building at the one time” Ms Watkins said.

These constraints included in the LEP, are designed to ensure that residential amenity for residents near medical consulting rooms is maintained.

Council also facilitated meetings between the applicant, Dr Albert, and the developer of the Minore Rd shopping complex who sought an amendment to the LEP on the adjoining land so that a larger medical centre could operate at the site. It is also possible for a medical centre to operate within the shopping complex. Ms Watkins said that due to the City’s LEP two large scale medical centres cannot operate that far away from the CBD and that Dr Albert was asked to surrender the original development application in order for the larger medical centre application, that could employ a larger number of staff, could be facilitated, however this proposal was rejected by Dr Albert.

“Dr Albert refused to surrender the original development application consent and in line with the LEP Council rejected the proposed rezoning request from the shopping centre developer, due to the likely impact from two medical centres outside the adopted medical precinct around the hospitals or the CBD” Ms Watkins said.

Council has recently entered into discussions via the Health Working Party with local GP’s and the University of Sydney in order for Council to incorporate clear and specific criteria for establishing medical consulting rooms and centres into the City’s new LEP.

MEDIA CONTACT: Director Environmental Services, Melissa Watkins, 6801 4000/

Council’s Technical Services division is urging residents to monitor their water usage.

The onset of high temperatures in Dubbo has seen increases in household water consumption hovering around 900 litres per person per day. As a result some residents have experienced problems with a consistent water supply to their households.

According to Council’s Manager, Water Supply and Sewerage, Geoff Bellingham, this is not due to a breakdown in Council’s water supply system but due to the very high water usage during peak demand periods.

“Council is encouraging all residents to consider their water usage practices both inside and outside their homes to help alleviate these problems” Mr Bellingham said.

“For example, limiting the usage of multiple appliances that consume water during peak demand times of 6pm – 8.30pm and changing the times for watering lawns and gardens to later in the evening and voluntarily adopting an alternate watering day with neighbours will greatly assist” Mr Bellingham said.

Council suggests some simple but effective practices that people can follow for saving water around the home:

• Adopt a weekly regime of deep watering plants, ensuring the roots and not just the plant leaf matter receives the water. This will minimize the evaporation losses and keep the plants well watered for longer.
• Nearly half of water consumed in the home is used in the bathroom; by installing water efficient showerheads and taking shorter showers residents will easily save water.
• Cover swimming pools when not in use. This will also reduce water evaporation. 
• Where possible wash cars on the lawn, using a suds bucket and rinse off with a hose with a trigger gun. This will minimize water losses and water the lawn at the same time.
• Avoid watering on hard surfaces, excess water is lost on concrete, pavers and other insoluble surfaces.

For further water savings information check out Dubbo's daily water usage and Savewater Alliance.

Dubbo City Council has partnered with local business Active Solar and Gas, and Country Energy to install a 3 kW Photovoltaic (solar) panel system on the Macquarie Regional Library.

The system will be used as an educational tool for the City and sends a strong environmental message that Council supports renewable energy resources.

Councillor Mayor Greg Mathews stated that Council’s step to embrace renewable energy technologies resulted from Councillor Dickerson’s strong desire to see more Dubbo households using solar power.

“This type of renewable energy is a positive step for the local and global environment. The system is a 3 kW system which will not generate all of the electricity requirements of the library, but will provide a valuable educational tool for the community,” Councillor Mayor Greg Matthews said.

Active Solar and Gas commenced installation of the system on Wednesday, 14 January 2009. An electronic display in the library will show how much energy is being produced and data will also be available via the Macquarie Regional Library website.

Councillor Mathew Dickerson has praised the project saying that Council is continually striving to reduce its greenhouse emissions and encourage the community to do the same.

“This project will also involve an educational program which will assist householders and businesses to access information and take advantage of the various rebates currently offered to install solar panels, hot water, insulation, rain tanks and efficient washing machines,” Councillor Dickerson said.

Council’s partners Active Solar and Gas are able to provide residents with information on installing a system in their homes as well as assist with relevant rebate applications.

Country Energy’s Regional General Manager, Peter Halliwell said “Country Energy is pleased to be supporting Dubbo City Council and hopes to see more Dubbo residents installing grid-connected solar systems or signing up for GreenPower.”

The educational component of the project is supported by the Department of Environment and Climate Change which offers rebates on many of the items listed.

An official launch of the project will be held in early February.

MEDIA CONTACT: Councillor Mathew Dickerson, 0418 628 439.

PHOTO OPPORTUNITY: 11AM, TODAY, MACQUARIE REGIONAL LIBRARY, MACQAURIE ST DUBBO.

For further information on the Photovoltaic (solar) panel system, contact Council’s Environmental Planner, Debbie Archer on 6801 4000.

As the New Year gets underway, Dubbo Mayor Greg Matthews says the local community has many great things to look forward to.

“Despite tough economic times and years of drought, Dubbo City Council is in a solid position financially and there are a number of major projects that will be finished or advanced in the coming 12 months,’’ Cr Matthews said.

“The Dubbo Regional Theatre and Convention Centre – which is starting to take shape - is scheduled to be completed by early 2010.

“In addition to that, Council will finish the sewerage project at Wongarbon and the Ballimore water supply scheme. The $3 million Industrial Candidate Area 2 – near the Dubbo Airport entrance – will be constructed, along with an 800 metre stormwater pipeline from Brisbane Street to the Macquarie River.’’

Cr Matthews said in the past five years, Council had invested significantly in the City’s future by constructing infrastructure and facilities that would benefit the whole community as well as visitors for generations to come.

“The award winning Western Plains Cultural Centre, which cost $5.3 million, has been welcomed by the community and praised throughout the arts world,’’ he said. “Other major projects have included the new Dubbo City Animal Shelter, significant upgrades to Apex Oval and renovation of the Civic Administration Building following a fire.

“All of this has been achieved through adopting responsible funding strategies that take advantage of Council’s strong balance sheet. Council has raised loans of around $55.5 million over the past seven years as a means of providing quality services and facilities whilst ensuring the cost is spread fairly between current and future generations.’’

Cr Matthews said Council continued to focus on developing and implementing long-term strategies that would ensure the City could support and nurture its future projected growth.

“A major challenge is funding civil infrastructure over the next 20 years, as well as the parks and landcare requirements over the coming three years,’’ he said. “There’s a hefty gap of $10 million between what Council is able to spend and what is actually required to be spent on annually maintaining and improving its civil infrastructure and facilities.

“As Mayor, I am committed to addressing these issues and ensuring we do not leave our children and grandchildren with a burden of failing infrastructure and facilities.’’

MEDIA CONTACT: Mayor Greg Matthews can be contacted on 0418 639 053.

The young people of Dubbo are set to benefit with stage two of the Sports Action Precinct in Victoria Park to receive funding under the federal government’s Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Program.

At its December 2008 meeting, Council determined that $440,000 of the $1,058,000 funding would be allocated toward further developing the popular Action Sports Park, which now includes a Skate Park with a full pipe that is the ‘first of its kind’ in Australia.

Mayor Greg Matthews said the funding – yet to be formally approved by the federal government - was great news for Dubbo’s youth.

“I am proud that Council can now move forward with plans to provide even more sport and leisure facilities for our young people as all projects funded under the Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Program must be completed by September 2009,’’ he said.

In addition to the new Skate Park, there are several other key components of the Action Sports Park:

• A stage / amphitheatre

• Hangout places and large swings

• ‘Rage Cage’ – compact multi-purpose sporting facility catering for 12 different outdoor sports

“The Action Sports Park will be separated for junior and senior extreme sport enthusiasts with a ‘rage cage’ in the centre,’’ Cr Matthews said. “In the future, a dedicated bike track will be incorporated, allowing bike riders to test their skills and have fun.
“A stage will be featured on the Talbragar Street edge of the skatepark for performances. Facing the stage area is a set of large steps that can be skated on and double as additional amphitheatre seating when required. It is envisaged that free-standing rock climbing challenge walls will be added in the future, complementing the youth facilities and designed to meet Australian Playground Standards.’’

Fast fact

The Dubbo Youth Council successfully lobbied Council to redevelop the current skate park to cater for more diverse extreme sports along with providing an area for outdoor youth oriented events.

PHOTO OPPORTUNITY: 11am, Friday, 9 January at Dubbo Skate Park. In attendance will be Mayor Greg Matthews, Council’s Director Parks & Landcare Ken Rogers, Youth Council representatives and Council’s new Youth Development Officer Paul Hennock.