OUTCOMES FROM THE JUNE 2025 ORDINARY COUNCIL MEETING

Council met at 5.30pm on Tuesday 24 June 2025 in Dubbo for the June 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 – May 2025
• Investment – May 2025
• Monthly reporting snapshot for Councillors – May 2025
• Quarterly Report on Complaint Statistics Under Council’s Code of Conduct – Quarter 3

Matters considered by committees: Reports of the below committees were adopted by Council:

• Report of the Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee – 2 June
• Report of the Infrastructure, Planning and Environment Committee – 10 June
• Report of the Culture and Community Committee – 10 June
• Report of the Corporate Services Committee – 10 June

With the exception of:

DRAFT 2025/2026 BUDGET, OPERATIONAL PLAN AND ASSOCIATED DOCUMENTS – RESULTS OF PUBLIC EXHIBITION

Council adopted the 2025/2026 budget, operational and associated documents with the following amendments:  

• Undertake the preparation and implementation of consultation plan to facilitate the development of a Multicultural Strategy.
• Develop partnerships with business and community groups, using existing resources to enhance the Christmas experience in the Dubbo CBD.
• The 20205/2026 Fees and Charges in respect of the Cattle Feeding Fee – per head be adjusted to $0.10 for stock sold in the Dubbo Regional Livestock Market (DRLM) sale inclusive of GST.
• A report be provided to Council in April 2026 reviewing the impact, effectiveness and efficiency of the new charges for the DRLM related to Feeder Fees.
• A new action was added to the 2025/2026 Operation Plan that Council develop in consultation with key stakeholders an adaptive reuse plan for the former animal shelter infrastructure in Dubbo.
• A new action was added to the 2025/2026 Operational Plan to work with Transport for NSW to have the NSW Government undertake and complete environmental studies that are able to inform a potential new Scabbing Flat Bridge design that meets the needs of the agricultural sector and high productivity vehicles.
• Council increased the 2025/2026 budget for the Old Wellington Police Station from $17,056 to $25,000 for repairs and maintenance and operational costs, to be funded from the Arts and Culture Branch budget.
• Council determined to allocate $250,000 in the 2025/2026 budget to fund additional toilet facilities at Cameron Park Wellington. This will be a priority project to be funded in the 2025/2026 financial year Quarterly Reviews through operational or other project savings.

Notices of Motion:

LOCAL FLAG PROTOCOLS: Council called for a report to be provided to the 23 September Ordinary Council meeting outlining the current flag protocols and options for the development of a local Flag Protocol Policy.

ROAD RE-CATEGORISATION: Council called for the preparation and submission of a proposal to re-categorise Saxa Road and Gollan Road from Regional Roads to State Roads.

CHURCH STREET FLATS: Council will approach Minister Rose Jackson and raise concerns regarding the impact of the Church Street flats on the Dubbo CBD area and seek an ongoing solution to the issues of antisocial behaviour emanating from the flats.

Reports from staff:

CONSIDERATION OF CERTAIN DEVELOPMENT APPLICATIONS BY INFRASTRUCTURE, PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE: Council will delegate determination of DAs that meet certain criteria to the Infrastructure, Planning and Environment Committee. Criteria includes the DA being recommended for approval by staff, there are less than 8 valid planning objections received from separate households and there have not been any petitions received in respect to the DA. This change in delegation will reduce Council’s DA processing time by 14 days in some instances. This will be reviewed in 12 months.

NAMING OF THOROUGHFARE - 4L CAMP ROAD DUBBO: Council approved the road names, Glenmore View and Victory Court as per the road layout plan. The proposed names will be notified on Council’s website for 14 days and if no objections are received they will be gazetted. If Council does receive an objection, a further report will be provided to Council for consideration.

CHILDCARE REVIEW: DUBBO REGIONAL COUNCIL: Council noted the report which examined the childcare sector within the Dubbo LGA, focusing on challenges facing the Dubbo and Wellington communities, the sector’s ability to recruit and retain skilled workers and a SWOT analysis of services.

DUBBO AQUATIC LEISURE CENTRE - INDOOR FACILITY: Council determined not to proceed with the progression of the project to the next stage of community engagement and not allocate $20,000 to be used for consultation and funded from an amendment to the Aquatic Leisure Centre Budget.

2024/2025 SPARC SUPPORT GRANT ASSESSMENT REPORT: Council allocated $24,100 to community-based organisations, with notifications to be sent to the following applicants.

Council deferred the allocation of $5,900 to Marradhali Aboriginal Corporation until further governance and cultural appropriateness assessments are undertaken.

2024/2025 EVENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM - COMMUNITY EVENTS FUND - ROUND 2: Council allocated $14,600 to the following groups.

MAKING OF RATES AND CHARGES 2025/2026: Council determined the Ordinary Rates, Annual Charges for Drainage and Waste Management and annual and user charges for Water and Sewerage supply be made for the year 2025/2026 as specified in the report.

COUNCILLOR AND MAYORAL FEES - 2025/2026: Councillors determined the annual fee payable to Councillors for the financial year starting 1 July 2025 be set at $27,860 and the additional fee payable to the mayor for the same period be set at $68,800.

Questions on Notice:

CAUSEWAY CROSSING AT FORESTVALE ROAD: Councillors were provided a response to a question about the causeway at Forestvale Road at Gollan. Funding for investigative works to occur has been outlined in the budget for the current financial year with the replacement of the causeway linked to the Spicers Creek Wind Farm Planning Agreement.

VILLAGE OF MUMBIL: Councillors were provided a response to a question about the charges for sewerage within Mumbil, which has a hybrid septic tank system and sewered system. Water and Sewer charges were harmonised across the LGA in 2023/2024.

STUART TOWN TRAFFIC: Councillors were provided a response to a question about traffic in Stuart Town with traffic counters to be deployed to understand the traffic environment when the road approach works to the new bridge are complete and construction signage is removed.

DUBBO REGIONAL LIVESTOCK MARKETS: Councillors received a verbal response to a question about the recent tender for stock handling. The response can be viewed during the live stream of the Council meeting on Council’s website.

WATER USAGE CHARGES: Councillors received a response regarding water bills and water usage charges. Council generally does see a higher enquiry rate during the third billing quarter as water usage generally doubles during the summer months compared to the winter months, with the latest rates notice posted for the third water billing period, which included water usage from 8 December 2024 to 9 March 2025.

Last Edited: 25 Jun 2025

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