Mr Riley yesterday pointed to statistics for approval times and surveys to show that the council was not “anti-development” and that “good things were happening” in Dubbo.

Council had worked on improving the planning process for applicants, he said but he reiterated that the planning process was “complex”.

Planning and development committee chairman Cr Mathew Dickerson agreed with the general manager in light of revelations the Orana Mall expansion was stuck in the assessment stage.

Daily Liberal bloggers were scathing of council’s performance in the area yesterday.

“You can count on Dubbo City Council to hinder development at every step,” ‘Tired’ said.

“Council need to back off and let this happen,” ‘DubboGal’ said.

Mr Riley rejected their comments as unfounded yesterday.

“If you look at the statistics for 2009-2010 there were 485 applications and 88 per cent were processed within 28 days,” he said.

“That’s a good statistic, I’m happy with that,” he said.

In the most recent client satisfaction survey, conducted by an independent company, satisfaction with the council’s planning division had come in at 86 per cent, he said.

Mr Riley has the “statistics to show” people who see council as obstructionist, when it was actually abiding by statewide laws.

“People won’t always get the answers they want and be able to do what they want,” he said.

Cr Dickerson said there was “natural friction” between councils and developers.

“If the correct decision means it take a little more time than that’s better than corruption or buildings falling down,” he said, referring Wollongong and other councils.