When Dubbo and Wellington councils were merged, the name was temporarily changed to Western Plains Regional Council, before it was decided to change it again to Dubbo Regional Council.

Now, the local government organisation has started its rebranding.

To design and research the new logo was $4,400. 

The cost of both has come from the NSW government’s $5 million Merger Implementation funding.

When the change of name was approved, council administrator Michael Kneipp said money had not been wasted with the temporary Western Plains brand.

“From day one I said to staff ‘I don’t want to spend a single cent on re-branding because we’re going to the public’. The logo was changed electronically, but we didn’t erect new signage or change uniforms. We’ve not spent a single cent,” he said.

The design was created alongside feedback from over 140 members of staff, business and community groups in Dubbo and Wellington, and Mr Kneipp said it would be a matter of personal opinion as to how it would be received.

Of those asked during the consultation, 51 per cent said they liked or really liked it, while 68 per cent said they would accept it.

There were 20 per cent who said they didn’t like it at all, however 74 per cent said it represented a modern and progressive organisation.

The new council name wasn’t about Wellington losing its identity, Mr Kneipp said, as the town had its own unique characteristics and would be marketed as such.

“Dubbo has such high recognition in regional Australia that Wellington will certainly benefit from being attached to Dubbo,” he said.

He said ultimately the intent was to create a new logo that would help harmonise the new organisation and would look good on a wide range of applications.

“The council logo is a lively, fresh representation of a new organisation committed to delivering services to the community across the regional area,” Mr Kneipp said.