In the past two months 13 development applications have been approved by Dubbo Regional Council for retail buildings.

The developments are worth an estimated $5.37 million.

Cr Shields said there were national chains that had their sights on Dubbo. The mayor remained tight lipped on which stores would soon be opening their doors, but said he was happy to see the retailers choosing to expand into Dubbo.

During September 56 development applications were approved in the local government area, including 13 dwellings and two other forms of residential developments.

A $3 million tourism development, as well as a $900,000 motel and a $980,000 warehouse were among the items given the go-ahead.

“There’s a positive vibe in the city, especially in retail. I’m certainly pleased in the general direction we’re heading,” Cr Shields said.

Retailers needed to realise while the population of Dubbo may have been 42,000, the city serviced more than 130,000 people, he said.

Cr Shields said some people believed that the large companies coming to Dubbo would damaging the business of the smaller, locally-owned stores. However, he said it wasn’t true.

“We want people to come to Dubbo for their shopping not looking for a better shopping experience in Dubbo or Tamworth or even Parkes,” Cr Shields said.

More stores would draw larger numbers of people to the city, Cr Shields said, helping all the businesses in the long run, as well as the Dubbo economy.

The highest number of development application approvals in September were for single dwellings, followed by garages or carports at 19 and seven swimming pools.

In total the approvals for the month were worth more than $19 million.

For the financial year to date, there have been 163 developments approved, worth about $41 million.