Yesterday when the Daily Liberal asked Cr Shields if the enthusiasm he had showed in 2012 continued, he said the site remained "an ideal place for development regardless of who owns it".

Two years earlier he said it would "be the jewel in the crown for Dubbo" as he stood by the side of project proponent John Kosseris, but this week the prominent site remained vacant.

"When I voted to allow the Riviera development to proceed, I did so with no regard to whom owned the development," he said yesterday.

"And to this day any decisions on the block should continue to have no regard to whom the actual owner is.

"We must make our decisions based on if it's legal and if it's good for Dubbo or not.

"Clearly a large retail development on this site will be good for Dubbo and I don't back away from that view."

The project of a Kosseris family company received approval in 2012 from the Western Joint Regional Planning Panel that included Cr Shields among its membership.

Last week BAWD Property Trust reported the sale of the land for the project had not proceeded to settlement and that as owner it was in talks with numerous parties but had "no definite plans" for the site.

Cr Shields, the deputy mayor, had appeared by Mr Kosseris's side at the Macquarie Street land in 2012 after the Riviera project was approved.

Cr Shields told assembled media it was the "perfect site for a Kmart... an ALDI... a Harris Farm Markets and even a JB Hi-Fi".

"This really will be the jewel in the crown for Dubbo, it's going to make Dubbo stand out among every other city in western NSW," he said at the time.

Cr Shields recently raised concerns that new and expanding developments located outside the main street would put pressure on the CBD.

Yesterday the Daily Liberal asked the deputy mayor if the Riviera site was pivotal to the revitalisation of the CBD and if so, what was he going to do to help bring it about.

"On the wider matter of the CBD, I believe council needs to start the process of facilitation with the stakeholders of our main shopping area and work out a long-term strategic plan that keeps the area viable," Cr Shields said.

"We must now make sure that the CBD remains prosperous and viable.

"I am still in discussions with councillors on the best way forward on this matter.

"One thing is certain though - to do nothing is not an option."

He said Dubbo had "done really well" recently with the expansion of Orana Mall and the anticipated opening of ALDI in Talbragar Street.

The council would soon commission a tourist walk in the CBD and was spending more than $1 million on the Old Dubbo Gaol, he said.

"Both projects will help the CBD by way of attracting extra people to the area," he said.

"I'm really keen to keep that momentum going not just in the CBD, but across the whole city."