THE creation of the new Western Plains Regional Council has set Dubbo’s progress back by at least five years.
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That was the prediction from Mathew Dickerson on Thursday when he received word about the death of Dubbo City Council.
Dubbo’s former mayor was in Kuala Lumpur where he had addressed an international tourism conference.
“You are no longer talking to the mayor of Dubbo,” he said.
“I am now Mathew Dickerson, citizen, because Dubbo City Council no longer exists. The functions of the Dubbo mayor and councillors have now been handed to administrator Michael Kniepp who has been appointed by the NSW government.
“Mark Riley (the former general manager of Dubbo City Council) will be the interim general manager.
“There will be five wards in the Western Plains Regional Council. Each ward will have two councillors.
“The first election of councillors for the new council will be September 9, 2017.
“That’s a long time for the community to be without elected representation.”
A disappointed Mr Dickerson told the Daily Liberal he felt like he had been “kicked in the guts”.
Up until the last minute he had hoped the NSW government would leave the Dubbo and Wellington councils alone.
“No one wanted this merger,” he said.
“It will bring to a halt the great progress that Dubbo has made in recent years. Now all the attention will have to be directed towards the creation of a new regional council structure.
“That means the focus will no longer be on continuing to develop Dubbo.”
Mr Dickerson said he “couldn’t see” how the new administrator would be able to be “as involved” in the merged council area.
“I am probably being a bit harsh on Mr Kniepp because I haven’t met the guy, but one person can’t be as involved as all the elected council representatives from Dubbo and Wellington,” he said.
“Our communities will suffer and for what? I am yet to see any advantage from the council merger.
“I have been told Mr Kniepp is a government employee who used to be something to do with Crown lands.”
“It will bring to a halt the great progress that Dubbo has made in recent years. Now all the attention will have to be directed towards the creation of a new regional council structure."
- Mathew Dickerson - former Dubbo City Council mayor
Mr Dickerson said he had council-related meetings booked for Friday and was to have welcomed a group to Dubbo on Saturday.
“I don’t know what happens now. I imagine the new administrator will take over those duties,” he said.
“It will be sad not be able to be part of coming events such as the Artlands Festival and the Cricket Australia junior national indoor championship.
“It takes a lot of work to get special events to Dubbo. I also enjoy being part of small, local happenings and special occasions such as citizenship ceremonies.
“I had always said that this would be my last term as mayor. If a new Dubbo City Council had been elected I would have had no problems handing the reins to a new mayor and new councillors because I know they would have continued to work for the local community.”
Mr Dickerson said although he did not agree with the local government merger he was pleased the announcement had been finally made.
He said indecision “hanging over” the city had been “crippling”.
“At least now we now know what is happening,” he said.
“It might not be what we want but at least we can get on with things. For me, the worrying thing is that it will set Dubbo’s development back.”
Will Mr Dickerson seek election to the new Western Plains Regional Council?
“At this stage I would have to say no,” he said.
“I don’t think I would have my heart and soul in it the same way that my heart and soul has been in Dubbo for the last 12 years.
“I can’t see that I could be 100 per cent committed to the new council.
“I am disappointed for all the Dubbo councillors and the council staff who have done fantastic work.”
Mr Dickerson said it had been a complete honour and privilege to serve the people of Dubbo.
“I thank all my fellow councillors,” he said.
“We have worked well together, even though we haven’t always agreed. Disagreements were always worked out in a mature, responsible way and then we moved on to the next decision.
“It’s sad to have worked so hard as a group and then it is all gone with a bang.”