Dubbo Rural and Suburban Residents and Ratepayers Association inaugural president Juliet Duffy and treasurer Sam Peacocke yesterday spoke enthusiastically about what the group could achieve for the city, as its membership reached the 160 mark.

While they show a can-do attitude, president of rival organisation the Dubbo Ratepayers and Residents Association (DRRA) Greg Mohr says the new association is yet to put the “runs on the board”.

On Thursday night the association started itself with a flourish, unveiling a website, patrons and business support.

Dubbo City Development Corporation (DCDC) board chairman Bill Kelly was pivotal in the association’s start up, and chaired its first meeting.

His actions came after the DRRA refused membership to him and others.

Ms Duffy sees the new association as something that will be “a voice for the people”.

Ms Duffy would like to think the association would “easily achieve 2000 members in 12 months” and says it had already reached 160 membership applications.

Mr Peacocke said he was looking forward to ratepayers coming to the association with their issues and working with them to get solutions.

“Ratepayers need someone to go into bat for them, they can be overwhelmed by council, it’s not just this council, it’s every council,” he said.

“The other exciting aspect is trying to make councillors accountable.

“Some councillors talk the talk but they do not walk the walk.”

Mr Peacocke lost his position on the council at last year’s election.

Former MP Gerry Peacocke and businessmen Joe Snare and Frank Brennan have all agreed to be patrons.

Mr Kelly said the association would have subcommittees to represent the different suburbs in Dubbo and rural residents.

It had also secured a number of local businesses to support a loyalty card for members and was looking to expand the program with additional businesses in the future.

All executive members were elected unopposed and Mr Kelly declined a nomination to the presidency.

DRRA president Greg Mohr yesterday said it had gained new members in the past two weeks.

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