OUTCOMES FROM THE AUGUST 2025 ORDINARY COUNCIL MEETING
Council met at 5.30pm on Tuesday 26 August 2025 in Wellington for the August Ordinary Council meeting. During the meeting the following outcomes were made:
Information only matters: Councillors noted the following reports:
- Mayoral appointments and meetings
- Mayoral Expenses – July 2025
- Investment – July 2025
Matters considered by committees: Reports of the below committees were adopted by Council:
- Report of the Infrastructure, Planning and Environment Committee – Meeting 12 August 2025.
- Report of the Culture and Community Committee – Meeting 12 August 2025
- Report of the Corporate Services Committee – Meeting 12 August 2025
Notices of Motion:
RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS: The CEO will write to the local MP, The Hon Dugald Saunders and the Duty MLC for Dubbo, The Hon Stephen Lawrence, asking what has been done to address the concerns of residents impacted by Renewable Energy Projects in our Local Government Area, specifically solar projects at Boree Park and Hampton Park, with a six week maximum timeframe for a response to be included. Upon receipt of a response, it will be brought back to Council.
COUNCIL’S ROLE IN GRANTS: The CEO will provide a report to the October meeting of council outlining the support Council provides to promote availability of grants to business and community groups across the Dubbo Local Government Area and the grants that Council applies for to assist with Council assets and services, including numbers, value and success rate.
COUNCILS RESPONSES TO RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS: Council called for draft responses to the State Government Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure for individual State Significant Renewable Energy Projects to be provided to Council for consideration at a Council meeting if a written request is made by two or more Councillors. The draft responses provided to Council are to be at the scoping stage and the planning assessment stage.
Notices of Rescission:
AUSTRALIA DAY EVENTS – DUBBO AND WELLINGTON: The notice of rescission was defeated.
Reports from staff:
DRAFT DUBBO REGIONAL HOUSING STRATEGY: Council adopted the draft Dubbo Regional Housing Strategy for the purpose of public exhibition between Monday 1 September and 9am, Monday 27 October. Community and stakeholder engagement will be undertaken during the period and the draft strategy will be brought back to council following the exhibition for further determination.
ACTION PLAN REVIEW CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE STRATEGY: Council determined that the draft Customer Experience Strategy 2021-2027 and draft Customer Experience Charter will go on public exhibition for community feedback, with a report on the outcomes of the exhibition to be prepared for Council following the exhibition.
RENAMING OF LOCAL TRAFFIC COMMITTEE TO LOCAL TRAFFIC FORUM DUE TO DELEGATION CHANGES: Council noted the rebranding of the committee to forum and adopted the updated Terms of Reference.
Questions on Notice:
WELLINGTON REZ TRAINING CENTRE – PROGRESS AND LOCAL BENEFITS: Council noted the responses to questions around the REZ Training Centre in Wellington, which included the progress, benefits, training and outcomes.
OPERATING LOSSES OF THE DRC AQUATIC LEISURE CENTRES: Council noted the responses to questions about the total cost to DRC of operating each of the three DRC Aquatic Leisure Centres in Dubbo, Wellington and Geurie between the 2019/2020 financial years through to the 2022/2023 financial years and the predicted operating result for the 2023/2024 financial year.
WOOD HEATERS IN NEW RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS: Council received a verbal response to questions about wood heaters in new residential developments looking at current approvals, state direction and council powers.
Confidential:
TENDER – VICTORIA PARK AMENITY BLOCK, DESIGN AND CONSTRUCT: Council awarded the tender to BLD Construction for $548,634.31 for the design and construction of the Victoria Park amenity block. The proceeds from the sale of 93L Railway Lane will be utilised to help fund approximately $171,114 with any remaining proceeds going towards other capital renewal or embellishment projects within the public open space network.
SOLAR CAR PARK WITH BATTERY AND EV CHARGING TENDER – DUBBO REGIONAL AIRPORT: Council elected to engage Iberdrola Australia under the pre-qualitied panel contract for an amount of $2,628,787.58.
OUTCOME OF SIMPLIFIED TENDER FOR REAL ESTATE AGENCY SERVICES FOR THE SALE OF UNSOLD LOTS AT KESWICK ESTATE, STAGE 5 RELEASE 2: Council declined to accept any of the tenders relating to the simplified tender for real estate agency services to sell land within Keswick Estate, Stage 5, Release 2, with Council to proceed with the sale of the lots as per option 2 outlined in the report.
UPDATE TO PROPOSED SALE OF, AND CREATION OF EASEMENT: Council agreed to the sale of Lot 131 on the property outlined in the report, with the conditions outlined in the report and recommendation.
PEOPLE CULTURE AND SAFETY QUARTERLY METRICS REPORT: Council noted the information in the report.
CODE OF CONDUCT MATTER: Council noted the investigation report dated 24 July 2025 into a Code of Conduct complaint against Councillor Toynton, raising concerns about videos published on social media in April and May 2025, which contained misleading comments that have the potential to erode public confidence in Council. Councillor Toynton was formally censured for breaches of the Code of Conduct as outlined in the investigation report.
Last Edited: 27 Aug 2025