Media releases

Photos and interviews are available with the following new staff members, employed across two of Council’s Divisions: Community Services and Technical Services.

Technical Services Division

Sharnie Attwood – Water Supply and Sewerage Branch
After three years working at Orange City Council in the water and sewer section, Sharnie Attwood has come back to Dubbo to work with Council in a newly-created position.

As Client Services Co-ordinator, Ms Attwood’s role is to ensure Council delivers effective, consistent and professional client services to Water Supply and Sewerage Branch customers. The client services team will act as the interface between the community and Council’s water and sewer services.

Ms Attwood will also oversee demand management and Council’s integrated water cycle and drought management plans; she will also play a role in community education.

Interviews / photos: phone Sharnie Attwood on 6801 4000.

Community Services Division

Council’s Community Services Division now has two new faces:

Judy Calthorpe – Community Safety Officer
Judy Calthorpe has been employed in a temporary part-time capacity until October 2009 to implement strategies in the current Crime Prevention Plan related to ‘Steal from Motor Vehicle’. Ms Calthorpe’s main focus is to increase awareness of vehicle owners on how to secure their property and to reduce the amount of steal from motor vehicle offences in police-identified hot spots. This will be achieved by conducting Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED) audits to identify strategies to address problem areas. It will also include providing education through workshops etc to owners of private businesses and residents.

Dubbo City Council Crime Prevention Plan (460 KB)

Interviews / photos: phone Judy Calthorpe on 6801 4000.

Paul Hennock – Youth Development Officer
Replacing Chris Bartlett, Paul Hennock commenced duties on Monday, 5 January 2009. His role is responsible for the facilitation of youth-friendly services, places and programs within the City of Dubbo through partnerships with service providers, government, business, young people and community. Mr Hennock will implement strategies through a community development model and will undertake a number of youth-related activities.

Interviews / photos: phone Paul Hennock on 6801 4481 or 0419 627786.

DIVISIONAL MEDIA CONTACTS: David Dwyer, Director Community Services, and Stephen Clayton, Acting Director Technical Services, phone 6801 4000.

The community is invited to comment on a proposal to ban alcohol consumption between the hours of 9pm to 9am in all public parks and reserves under Council’s ownership, control and care.

At its December 2008 meeting, Council resolved to invite public comments on the proposal to broaden the ban which had previously only applied to specific parks and reserves.

“Certain incidents have prompted a review of the rules governing the consumption of alcohol in Council’s parks and reserves,’’ Mayor Greg Matthews said.

“The exception to the proposal is Victoria Park No. 1 Oval and the East Dubbo Sporting Complex (Apex Oval), given the fact that sporting events, which see spectators consume alcohol, often go past 9pm.

“It is acknowledged that there will be occasions when there is a requirement to extend and / or vary the ban at parks and reserves. Council’s General Manager would be delegated the authority to vary the times of the proposed ban for a temporary period – where required.’’

Cr Matthews said if the proposal is adopted by Council at a future meeting following the public exhibition period, on-the-spot fines of $110 could be imposed by police to persons in breach of the bans.

“Submissions will indicate whether there is a case for standardising the bans across all Council parks and facilities, or introducing specific site solutions with the aim of preventing anti-social and criminal behaviour, making it easier for police to regulate,’’ he said.

The public exhibition period is now open and finishes on Friday 20 February 2009. Members of the community can have a say by posting their comments to Dubbo City Council, PO Box 81, Dubbo NSW 2830 or emailing dcc@dubbo.nsw.gov.au
Council will consider all submissions received at its March 2009 Ordinary Council Meeting.

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

Nominations for Dubbo’s Australia Day Awards close in three days at 5pm on Friday, 9 January.

The community is urged to submit nominations for the five award categories.

Mayor Greg Matthews said nominations were being called for award recipients in the following categories:

• 2009 Citizen of the Year
• 2009 Young Citizen of the Year
• 2009 Sportsperson of the Year
• 2009 Young Sportsperson of the Year
• 2009 Services to Sports Award

“The nominations will be considered by a panel of past recipients of Dubbo’s Australia Day Awards,’’ Cr Matthews said.

Dubbo City Council will celebrate Australia Day 2009 in Victoria Park on Monday, 26 January from 9am to 10.30am.

The celebrations will include the annual awards presentation and flag raising ceremony.

Nomination forms are available from Council’s Civic Administration Building, the Macquarie Regional Library Dubbo Branch, the Dubbo Neighbourhood Centre Inc, Daily Liberal, Radio 2DU/Zoo FM and Orana Mall.

For further information please contact Council’s Customer Service Centre on 6801 4000.

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

Dubbo City Council will celebrate Australia Day 2009 in Victoria Park on Monday, 26 January from 9am to 10.30am.

The celebrations will include the annual awards presentation and flag raising ceremony.

Mayor Greg Matthews said nominations were now being called for award recipients in the following categories:

• 2009 Citizen of the Year
• 2009 Young Citizen of the Year
• 2009 Sportsperson of the Year
• 2009 Young Sportsperson of the Year
• 2009 Services to Sports Award

“The nominations will be considered by a panel of past recipients of Dubbo’s Australia Day Awards,’’ Cr Matthews said.

“The winners will be announced on Monday, 26 January 2009 during the City’s Australia Day celebrations.’’

Nomination forms are available from Council’s Civic Administration Building, the Macquarie Regional Library Dubbo Branch, the Dubbo Neighbourhood Centre Inc, Daily Liberal, Radio 2DU/Zoo FM and Orana Mall.

Nominations close: 5pm, Friday, 9 January 2009.

For further information please contact Council’s Australia Day Co-ordinator, Mr Michael Ferguson, on 6801 4000.

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

Many people will wake up on Christmas morning to find a motorised scooter or bike under the Christmas tree.

Council’s Road Safety Officer Kristine Long said while these modes of transport are great fun, riders need to know where they can use them.

"Generally speaking, most of these devices can only be used on private property," she said.

"There are some retailers who sell these vehicles and fail to warn customers that they cannot be used on roads or in public areas."

In NSW, any device with a motor must be registered for use on a road or road related area unless it is specifically exempt.

"Motorised foot scooters, miniature motorbikes (also known as mini bikes, pocket bikes or monkey bikes) and other motorised recreational devices do not meet minimum Australian design standards for safety and so cannot be registered,’’ Ms Long said.

“This means they must not be used on roads or in any public areas such as footpaths, car parks and parks."

There are heavy penalties for using unregistered and uninsured vehicles.

Police can also seize and take possession of unregistered vehicles.

Further information can be obtained from local police, the Roads and Traffic Authority on 13 22 13 or Council’s Road Safety Officer on 6801 4000.

MEDIA CONTACT: Kristine Long can be contacted on 6801 4000.

Further information

Prohibited vehicles
The following vehicles (irrespective of the power output of the motor) are banned from use on roads or in public areas:

• Motorised foot scooters (with or without a seat) – electric/petrol engine
• Mini bikes or monkey bikes
• Motorised human transporters such as the WheelMan, or SEGWAY
• Motorised skateboards – electric/petrol engine

Exemptions
All devices with a motor that meet national design and safety standards must be registered for use on a road or road-related area unless they are specifically exempt.

Motor assisted pedal cycles with electric or petrol engines are exempt from registration, provided the maximum engine output power does not exceed 200 watts.

These vehicles must have been designed as a bicycle - that is, to be propelled by human power, with the motor attached as a supplementary aid only.

Riders must follow the same road rules as for pedal cycles without motors, including wearing a helmet.

Motorised wheelchairs and other types of disabled persons’ conveyances are exempt from registration and operators of these vehicles must comply with the same road rules as pedestrians. This is provided:

• They are used solely for the conveyance of a person with a disability that substantially impairs the person’s mobility.
• They are not capable of travelling at more than 10km/h.

Further information can be obtained from local police, the Roads and Traffic Authority on 13 22 13 or Council’s Road Safety Officer on 6801 4000.

Recent spring weather has led to much flowering of many weeds along local roadsides and in paddocks.

Due to the recent interest in the noxious weed Blue Heliotrope, Council’s Parks and Landcare Division are confirming the key characteristics of the weed.

Council’s Manager Landcare Services Lynton Auld said that it is very easy to confuse Blue Heliotrope with other plants of the flower same colour.

“As people travel along the roads at speed, it is easy to assume all the weeds of the same colour are same type of plant, however, on closer inspection the difference in the weeds appearance is evident” Mr Auld said. "Many people confuse Blue Heliotrope with Maynes Pest Weed because of their similar flower but the difference is in their leaves."

“Maynes Pest Weed is not a noxious weed and does not pose a significant threat to agriculture or biodiversity it also doesn’t have the hairy leave of the Blue Heliotrope, rather they are dissected, indeed almost fern-like in their leaves."

Mr Auld said that Council controls the noxious weed Blue Heliotrope diligently and monitors its spread.

“Don’t panic when you see purple or bluey purple flowers on our roadsides, it may not be the Noxious Blue Heliotrope. It is more than likely, the benign and harmless Maynes Pest Weed, but if residents are worried stop and look at the leaves, they are the key.

MEDIA CONTACT: Council’s Manager Landcare Services, Lynton Auld 6801 4000

The first meeting of the Central West Regional Algal Coordinating Committee (RACC) was held recently and attended by representatives from Dubbo City Council.

Central West RACC coordinates the routine monitoring of algal events by local government councils, State Water Corporation and the Department of Water and Energy in the Lachlan and Macquarie valleys.

Dubbo City Council’s Director Technical Services Stewart McLeod said the Macquarie catchment included the shire councils of Wellington, Warren and Narromine, and the Dubbo City and Mid-Western Regional councils. The area also includes the Windamere and Burrendong dams.

“Central West RACC has developed an Algal Contingency Plan following the 1998 blue-green algae bloom in the Macquarie River,’’ he said.

“This bloom extended from Burrendong Dam several hundred kilometers downstream. Causes are low river flow, high temperatures and nutrient levels in the riverine environment.’’

Mr McLeod said the RACC provided a way of coordinating the efforts of 10 councils as well as other government agencies, including emergency management services.

“At the first Central West RACC meeting, projected low river flows were recognised as increasing the risk of a blue-green algae this summer,’’ he said.

“Local government councils, including Dubbo City Council, will be prepared if this situation eventuates.

“Council has accumulated stockpiles of activated carbon which is used to treat water containment with blue-green algae, should that become necessary”.

MEDIA CONTACT: Council’s Director Technical Services Stewart McLeod can be contacted on 6801 4000.

The 2020 Vision for the City of Dubbo is a social and economic plan for Dubbo’s future, involving the three tiers of government, business organisations and community groups.

This whole-of-government project contains strategies and targets to enhance Dubbo’s quality of life, economic potential and standing as a service centre for the region.

The latest Report outlines how local agencies have progressed activities to meet the targets and performance indicators outlined in the 2020 Vision for the City of Dubbo document. The report outlines the achievements of the organisations involved and what the Dubbo community can look forward to in 2009.

The community is encouraged to contribute to the strategies identified in the plan, which will be updated and reviewed in line with community input after consideration at whole-of-government committee meetings.

Progress in meeting targets included in the plan will be regularly reported to the community.

The third progress report of the 2020 plan will be distributed to Dubbo households in the coming days.

2020 Progress Report No. 3 (1258 KB)

A 2020 vision for the city of Dubbo (133 KB)

BOD alliance windfall

An alliance between Bathurst, Orange and Dubbo councils has resulted in a $2 million windfall that will see benefits for the local environment.

The BOD Alliance Councils – Bathurst Regional, Orange City and Dubbo City – have developed and recently adopted the Regional Sustainability Action Plan as strategic direction for environmental sustainability across the region.

Dubbo Mayor Greg Matthews said the adoption of a regional Action Plan had formed a strong basis for funding applications.

“The BOD Alliance applied for funding through the Urban Sustainability Program,’’ he said. “As a result, the Action Plan has achieved $2 million in financial support from the NSW Environmental Trust to be shared between the three councils.’’

“The funding will support the “Inspiring and Integrating Change” project which includes joint initiatives to be carried out by the Alliance during the next three years, as well as a major project for each of the three councils. It also includes funding for two staff during 2010 and 2011 who will assist in the delivery of the project.

“While details are still to be finalised, the local project aims to continue Dubbo City Council’s leading example in the field of renewable energy. It may incorporate a renewable energy system at a Council facility.’’

“The project will also include community education components and assist Council with its carbon accounting requirements. It is anticipated that Council's and the region’s progress to sustainability will be enhanced through this project.’’

Inspiring and Integrating Change is expected to be delivered from April 2009.

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

This summer 50, 000 children across Australia will be kicking goals and heading into their local libraries as part of the National Summer Reading Club.

Manager of the Dubbo Branch of the Macquarie Regional Library Kathryn Moore said that the Library will join other public libraries from Broome to Hobart participating in the initiative this year.

“We are expecting that children will be bowled over this year by the theme of “Get in the game, READ! – which will be launched next week,” Ms Moore said.

“The National Summer Reading Club continues throughout the summer months to promote reading and reading related activities to children aged from five to 16 years.

“Participants have the chance to score some great prizes simply by being involved – including the major prize of a Nintendo DS Lite” Ms Moore said.

“Public Libraries are essential to the national effort to improve literacy skills in the community and this program is a great example of a program that improves skills through fun activities”.

MEDIA CONTACT: Macquarie Regional Library Dubbo Branch Manager, Kathryn Moore 6801 4510