Media releases

A Dubbo City Council survey involving some 300 participants is set to gather information on the community’s overall satisfaction with local facilities and services.

Consultancy firm Micromex has been appointed to conduct the survey, which will start on Monday, 16 November.

Council’s Director Corporate Development Megan Dixon said the purpose of the study is to provide Dubbo City Council with an assessment on community attitudes and perceptions towards current and future services and facilities.

“Using the 2007 report as a benchmark, the report will be used to predict overall satisfaction, identify issues and rate satisfaction levels of contact between Council staff and residents,” she said.

“Dubbo City Council will own the data and information in this report, which will enable it to be used as a benchmark for trend analysis against the previous and future surveys.”

The 2009 survey will be conducted via telephone and feature a sample size of 300 residents from a wide cross-section of the community.

The information will be used by Council in planning and decision-making regarding resource allocation.

MEDIA CONTACT: For further information, please contact Council’s Director Corporate Development Megan Dixon on (02) 6801 4000.

The 2009 Rolf Boldrewood Literary Awards have been presented to writers of Australian prose and poetry.

The awards are named in honour of Rolf Boldrewood, the Dubbo-based author of the famous 19th century Australian novel, Robbery Under Arms, and are collaboration between the Macquarie Regional Library and the Outback Writer’s Centre.

 

Library Director John Bayliss said over 200 entries were received in this year’s awards and the work came from all States and New Zealand.

“The number of entries and the standard of writing were very pleasing, and a cash prize of $300 was awarded to the first place winners in both competition categories,” said Mr Bayliss.

“Brett Garling, from the Garling Gallery at Wongarbon, also created a bronze limited edition bust of Boldrewood, which was presented to both winners.

“The Boldrewood Awards are very important to Australian literature as they foster excellence in local writing and acknowledge the author of what is considered one of Australia’s three great colonial novels.”

2009 Winners.

Prose
1st Place – John Millett, Fox – Fire

 

2nd Place – Warwick Sprawson, The Indefatigable Gentleman

 

3rd Place – Fleur Hunt, The ‘Table’

 

Highly Commended – Kate Rotherham, Butterflies and Dragons

 

Highly Commended – Mike Cooper, Uses of Seaweed

 

Highly Commended – Jacqueline Winn, Crumbs of Wisdom

 

Highly Commended – Michelle Brock, Vanishing
Poetry

 

1st Place – Max Merckenschlager, Mosquito, The Black Bushranger

 

2nd Place – Max Merckenschlager, Says Martin Cash

 

3rd Place – Caroline Glen, Tasmanian Tiger

 

Highly Commended – Mark Miller, Variations on Rain in the Time of Drought

Highly Commended – Mike Cooper, The Midges

 

Highly Commended – Gordon Shrubb, Flying

 

 

MEDIA CONTACT: For further information, please contact John Bayliss, Director Macquarie Regional Library on (02) 6801 4500 or 0418 634 735.

 

Dubbo City Mayor Allan Smith says this weekend’s double celebration of the anniversary of both the Minokamo Sister City Relationship and the Shoyoen Sister City Garden is a real milestone in sister city arrangements.

The Minokamo link is a 20th anniversary and the garden in East Dubbo is celebrating its 7th birthday.

Cr Smith said both anniversaries will be marked by an entertainment packed program on Saturday afternoon/evening at the Shoyoen Garden.

“The two-decade long relationship with Minokamo has proven especially rewarding for our City, it has grown into an annual student exchange program with young people from both Dubbo and Minokamo offered the opportunity to stay with host families, attend school and experience a whole new culture and way of life,” said Cr Smith.

“We also have the benefit of the Shoyoen Garden and Tea House, which are maintained by Council staff and a very dedicated group of volunteers.

“The complex is a valuable tourist attraction for Dubbo and the establishment of the Friends of Shoyoen, who are the driving force behind hosting the annual anniversary events and visitor assistance in the gardens on weekends.”

The entertainment program at the Shoyoen Sister City Garden will run from 4.00pm-8.00pm this Saturday 14 November with traditional Japanese tea demonstrations presented throughout the evening.

MEDIA CONTACT: For further information, please contact Mayor Allan Smith on (02) 6801 4101 or 0418 639 053.

Dubbo City Council is issuing a corporate challenge to other businesses across the City to recycle their unwanted files this Friday, 13 November.

Employers and their staff are urged to join the Friday File Fling as part of National Recycling Week (9 – 15 November).

Dubbo City Council Civil Infrastructure and Solid Waste Asset Systems Engineer Michael McCulloch said the activity is a novel way of getting rid of unnecessary files while also helping the environment.

“Office paper has a low recycling rate because so much of it gets stored in files that will never be read again,” he said.

“This is a great opportunity for office workers to clean up their desks while at the same time help get good quality paper back into circulation.”

“Put aside some time in your diary between 4pm and 5pm this Friday to clear out your unused personal files on 13 November and let’s see how much office paper can be collected for recycling in Dubbo.”

Mr McCulloch said there is a range of re-use and recycling options for recovered office paper.

 

“The re-use options have a higher environmental benefit since you avoid buying more paper,” he said.

 

“One re-use option is to make Friday File Fling Notebooks branded with your company logo from the single-sided paper you recover. Not only does this make good use of resources, it helps to promote your organisation’s commitment to sustainability.”

 

For more information and recycling tips, visit www.recyclingweek.planetark.org/

 

To find out more about the Friday File Fling, call Dubbo City Council’s Customer Services Centre on (02) 6801 4000.

 

 

 

MEDIA CONTACT: For further information, please contact Dubbo City Council Civil Infrastructure and Solid Waste Asset Systems Engineer Michael McCulloch on (02) 6801 4000.

The Australian Government’s Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, the Hon Anthony Albanese today opened the Victoria Park Regional Recreation Precinct.

The precinct was made possible after Dubbo City Council received a federal Community Infrastructure Program grant.

The $1.1m funding included $660,000 for two projects in Victoria Park – the Action Sports Park, which includes the Skate Park and the Equal Access Playground.

A third project, the 2.5km extension to the Tracker Riley Cycleway, received a grant of $340,000. Minister Albanese said the Community Infrastructure Grants were designed to stimulate the economy and provide improved facilities for councils across Australia.

Dubbo City Mayor Cr Allan Smith thanked Minister Albanese for visiting the City to open the new projects and said they would be lasting endorsements of the Community Infrastructure Program.

“These projects in Victoria Park have been extremely well patronised since they were completed and I believe the Action Sports Park, with its state-of-the-art skateboarding facility, is the most popular attraction for the youth of Dubbo,” said Cr Smith.

“The Equal Access Playground is also a very valuable addition to Dubbo City Council’s facilities and a particularly valuable resource for the increasing number of young families moving to Dubbo.”

The funds granted to Dubbo under the Community Infrastructure Program funded a variety of work at the Action Sports Park including the Rage Cage and the Skate Park ramps and in the Playground; the Soft-fall Ground Mat, Net Climber and play equipment were all paid for with federal funding.

“These two projects and the lengthening of the Tracker Riley Cycleway injected more than one million dollars into the local economy and that is great for our community,” Cr Smith said.

“Economics aside, at the end of the day our City has three excellent new recreation facilities, which will benefit Dubbo for years.”

MEDIA CONTACT:

For further information, please contact Mayor Allan Smith on (02) 6801 4101 or 0418 639 053.

 

EXTRAORDINARY COUNCIL MEETING

At an extraordinary meeting tonight, Council rejected a motion to rescind a Council resolution to contract Dubbo City Development Corporation (DCDC), for a six month interim period to undertake the provision of economic development services for Council.

 

During the contract term, for which the Corporation will be paid a fee of $130,000, Council will consider its future directions in respect of the delivery of economic development services.

The decision to award the contract followed considerations at Council’s 2 November meeting following the receipt by Council of correspondence from the Department of Local Government (DLG).

The correspondence, relating to enquiries by the Department in July this year in respect of Grow Dubbo, follows the Department’s receipt of a number of complaints regarding Council’s involvement in the funding of the Corporation.

Council ceased funding the DCDC pending advice from the Department. 

Dubbo Mayor Cr Allan Smith said Council at its meeting on Monday last adopted a 12-point motion in respect of the issue.

“Following legal advice and communication from the DLG, Council will comply with the Local Government Department’s suggestion that any future involvement with DCDC be on a contract basis,” Cr Smith said.

“Several councillors expressed the view that the economic development program should continue, in the City’s interest, during the six months interim period and that DCDC was best placed to provide those services.”

Council also voted against a rescission motion to provide the DCDC with transcripts of past Council meetings relating to discussion about the corporation.

MEDIA CONTACT: For further information, please contact Mayor Allan Smith on (02) 6801 4101 or 0418 639 053.

Singer/songwriter wins $500 prize in Lovin’ Talent promotion

The sponsorship of local education and training provider Western College for this year’s Lovin’ Talent promotion has earned local talent Jo Hyndes the $500 prizemoney.

 

The singer/songwriter received the cash prize after performing at the Lovin’ Dubbo Festival. She was among a group of amateur entertainers who put their hand up to be part of a talent showcase at the Cyril Flood Rotunda during the nine-day event.

 

Lovin’ Dubbo event manager, Dubbo City Council’s Lana Willetts congratulated Ms Hyndes on her success and said it would not been possible without the generosity shown by Western College.

 

“The amount of support shown for this event has been outstanding,” she said.

 

“Without our business sponsors and community support, the festival just wouldn’t have been possible.

 

“Thank you Western College and congratulations to Jo, I hope she will be able to use this as a platform for future successes.”

 

Western College Deputy CEO, Erifili Davis said the training institution was proud to be a supporter of the Lovin’ Dubbo Festival.

 

“For us, it’s about supporting local projects and the local community. Western College seeks to encourage development in all areas of our community and economy,” Mrs Davis said.

“Arts and culture is an integral part of regional development and this was a logical way to contribute.”

MEDIA CONTACT: Western College marketing assistant, Louise Lewis on (02) 6884 2899.

MONTHLY COUNCIL MEETING

Dubbo City Council has voted not to introduce a 40kmh speed limit in the City’s Central Business District (CBD).

The decision came at Monday night’s monthly Council Meeting in which a rescission motion rejecting the rezoning was passed.

Dubbo Mayor Cr Allan Smith confirmed the proposal to provide a 40kmh speed zone generally bounded by Bligh, Cobra and Darling streets was not adopted.

“Plans were submitted to the Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) earlier in the year and the proposal went on public display,” he said.

“However, councillors have voted against the implementation citing it as unnecessary expenditure in what is already a heavy traffic area.”

 

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

MONTHLY COUNCIL MEETING

Council has voted to approve the development of a guesthouse at 70 Darling Street, North Dubbo.

The single-storey construction will follow the demolition of an existing residential dwelling and the developer adhering to conditions imposed by Council.

The original two-storey development proposal submitted to Council was not considered to be consistent with surrounding development and the existing streetscape.

Mayor Allan Smith said the new plans submitted were in accordance with the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act.

“The scale and style of the development has been re-designed to better conform with the local amenity of the neighbourhood,” Cr Smith said.

“The project was given the go-ahead at Monday’s Council meeting after the new plans were submitted changing the original two storeys to one.”

When completed the guesthouse is expected to provide accommodation for itinerant workers coming to the City and a stop-off point for backpackers.

An in-house manager will reside on the premises. 

MEDIA CONTACT: For further information, please contact Mayor Allan Smith on 68014101 or 0418 639 053.

MONTHLY COUNCIL MEETING

Council has voted to accept a tender for a contract to provide the collection and processing of domestic recyclables in Dubbo City.

Managed by NetWaste, the tendering process attracted one bid from JR Richards & Sons as a result of the fresh invitations of tenders which closed on 4 August 2009.

New tenders were called which included the option of processing recyclables at a facility remote to the local area. Council accepted the 10-year tender which will involve JR Richards & Sons collecting recyclables at the kerbside and processing them at the Visy Materials Recoverable Facility at Smithfield in Sydney.

“One option in the tender, to construct an Educational Resource Centre at JR Richards & Sons’ Fitzroy Street site, was not accepted, but otherwise kerbside recycling is on the way,” Cr Smith said.

“Twenty-five per cent of the City’s domestic waste is expected to be diverted from landfill with the introduction of the fortnightly service in the Dubbo Local Government Area by 1 July 2010.’’

Cr Smith said in the 2007 Community Attitude Survey, local residents rated recycling as the service most in need of attention among 49 other services provided by Council. He said this support had also been reflected in other biennial customer surveys conducted specifically on Council’s waste management functions.

The Mayor said that in addition to accepting a tender for the service, Council had also resolved, following the public consultation process in October 2009, a maximum amount of $247 per domestic service be included in Council’s draft 2010/2011 Revenue Policy.

“$106 of this maximum amount relates to kerbside recycling - $141 relates to the weekly kerbside collection of general waste.”

MEDIA CONTACT:

For further information, please contact Mayor Allan Smith on 6801 4101 or 0418 639 053.