Flooding disruptions
Following record June rainfall in Dubbo and consistent rain in the early
part of July, communities across the Western Plains Regional Council
had to contend with significant disruption with the Bell River and the
Macquarie River reaching flood levels.
With an extensive road network under Council’s management
and an important role to play in supporting other agencies in traffic
and road management, last week was a very busy week for Council crews.
I would like to thank the SES and the many volunteers who assisted
during the week. SES volunteers are at the front line in flood
situations, door knocking businesses and residents, keeping
organisations such as Council up to date with river and road conditions
and assisting in emergencies.
In Wellington, the closure of the Renshaw McGirr Road and several other
main roads in the district being cut at different times certainly caused
significant disruption. Council staff also managed road closures on
Bodangora Road, Cobbora Road and Bald Hill Road.
While Dubbo was spared major traffic concerns as the predicted river
peak was lower than expected and the Serisier Bridge remained open,
there was disruption as Council took precautions based on advice
received and closed Bligh Street and the pedestrian and cycle paths and
bridges along the Tracker Riley Cycleway.
Council staff have quickly turned to clean-up and repairs with the list
including clearing debris from the Terrabella Bridge on the Little River
and large accumulations of material from various causeways, filling
road washouts on numerous creek crossings in the Geurie-Arthurville area
and the Mumbil-Stuart Town area and urgent repairs have been carried
out on bitumen and gravel road pavements across the Council area.
I congratulate the Council crews that have worked hard to be able to
reopen as quickly as possible the most popular parts of the Track Riley
Cycleway as quickly as possible and also for identifying hazards across
the Council area and rectifying them in a timely fashion.
Council meeting.
This Wednesday in Wellington there will be an Ordinary Council meeting
starting at 5.30pm. Among the important Agenda items is the Proposed
Organics Processing Plan and Food and Garden Organics Collection
Service. This is a service which the former Dubbo City Council had
started considering as early as 1998 but since 2012 the proposal gained
momentum and the former Council secured a $3.26 million State Government
grant toward the construction of a regional composting plant and nearly
$850,000 in funding toward a kerbside food and garden organics
collection service.
The merger of the former Dubbo City and Wellington councils has also
effectively expanded the area that could potentially be serviced by this
proposal. The recommendation to be considered at the Council meeting
includes incorporating a pensioner rebate on the Domestic Waste
Management Charge for an expanded service.
I encourage everyone interested to read the report and the results of
the trial that was conducted to understand the reasoning behind the
decision to be made.
Burrendong Pipeline Public Exhibition
While the rain has been tumbling down Council is also investigating long
term options that would secure water supply in times of severe drought.
Council has placed draft route plans of a proposed future pipeline from
Burrendong Dam to the John Gilbert Water Treatment Plant at Dubbo, via
the Wellington Water Treatment Plant and Geurie on public exhibition for
community comment.
This process is another step in the planning process for such a pipeline to be considered sometime in the future.
The draft route plans can be viewed at Council’s Administration Centres
in Dubbo and Wellington, the Dubbo and Wellington Branch libraries,
Geurie General Store and are available on Council’s website
www.westernplains.nsw.gov.au. Submissions close 26 August 2016.
Last Edited: 27 Jul 2016