Former Suburban Residents and Ratepayers Association president Juliet Duffy wants the new federal parliament to work for Dubbo by carving out sustainable energy solutions for the region.
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Meanwhile Dubbo MP Dawn Fardell wants health at the top of the list and said there were 150 MPs holding the balance of power not just the two rural independents.
Dubbo councillor Tina Reynolds also wanted the city to target health services when seeking funding grants for the bush.
However, Ms Reynolds was pessimistic about Dubbo’s chances because of internal squabbling and what she termed the city’s “boys club”.
With the telephones in the offices of independent MPs Tony Windsor and Rob Oakeshott ringing non-stop any delegations on behalf of Dubbo may have to take a number.
But if Ms Duffy ever managed to contact those holding the balance of power she would recommend long-term thinking about what the bush needs.
“The concern is about the stability the government will show when making decisions,” she told the Daily Liberal.
“We hope they can all work together and show the courage to run the country for the next couple of years.
“I hope they would push for some sustainable energy decisions. When you look at energy consumption doubling by 2020 that’s not that far away. Energy has just gone up by 40 per cent in the regions.”
Ms Duffy expressed concern about the impending release of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan, which has been repeatedly delayed.
“There is a very strong emphasis on environmental aspects but it’s very light on economic and social impacts which will affect Dubbo,” she said.
“Another thing for Dubbo is we haven’t had a fair slice of the pie when it comes to health.”
Ms Fardell believed it was matter for federal, state and local governments to exploit.
“It’s a good opportunity for rural and regional Australia and it should be grabbed with both hands,” she said.
“If I was the federal member I’d look at all the regional funding opportunities. We need much more infrastructure, things like roads and highways.”
The new political arrangement could even see Dubbo Base Hospital get a federal funding boost “provided we have a master plan”.
Ms Reynolds also believed better health services were a must if the city was to grow.
“The most important thing is health. We should be concentrating on having health facilities here for the whole region,” she said.
“If we don’t gave good facilities here people will move away as they get older.
“Second to that should be infrastructure like roads and thinks like that.”
But Ms Reynolds was doubtful Dubbo would prosper even with two rural MPs holding the balance of power.
“I don’t know if much is really going to change. I do believe a lot will change for Tony Windor’s area and Mr Oakeshott’s area ... but that’s not our electorate,” she said.
“If we are serious about moving forward, getting our infrastructure in place, pushing for things lets do it properly.
“If we are serious about getting infrastructure here we’ve got to sort ourselves out and get rid of this boys club here.”
