By November Dubbo City Council had given the green light to 144 development applications, together worth $25,314,821.

While down from the same time last year, Dubbo mayor, councillor Greg Matthews has hopes that the success of last financial year’s performance will be repeated.

In 2007/08 $137 million worth of developments was approved.

That was $33 million up on the previous year.

It showed that confidence in the future of Dubbo was borne out by the infrastructure going in, Cr Matthews said.

Despite gaining the likes of Bunnings, Oporto and Dan Murphy’s, the mayor did not think that Dubbo had reached its limit of big businesses it could attract.

“They’ll always be big developers as each business finds the economic case to come here,” he said.

“I can’t see a reason for any of those multinationals already in Bathurst and Orange not to come to Dubbo when they find the right spot.”

The development with the highest worth was the Dubbo Regional Theatre and Convention Centre at $11.3 million.

That work includes alterations to the Dubbo Civic Centre.

Once the theatre is fitted out, its total cost will be $18 million.

Other developments the city has to write home about are a seniors’ accommodation development in Macquarie Street, the construction of a bulky goods complex at the former CAT site at Cobra Street, the Dan Murphy’s liquor outlet in Windsor Parade and Dubbo Court House upgrade.

A number of significant developments have come to the council this financial year.

Quest Apartments submitted a $7 million application for the construction of tourist accommodation in Bultje Street.

A $6 million Delroy Park shopping centre development has been given in-principal support from the council but amendments are required in its local environment plan (LEP) before it is approved.

Four million dollar plans for the former RAAF Base, including demolition of a number of structures and construction of a neighbourhood shopping centre are yet to be approved.

The demolition of the Ashwood Motel in West Dubbo to make way for another McDonald’s is a $1.45 million development under consideration.

“Quest has been approved, Delroy Park has been approved in principle, it’s just waiting on the State Government, McDonald’s… it’s all moving ahead well for next year,” Cr Matthews said.

faye.wheeler@ruralpress.com

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Top 10 development applications for Dubbo in 2007/08

1. Dubbo Regional Theatre and Convention Centre $11.3 million.

2. Seniors’ housing development, Macquarie Street $9.85 million

3. Bulky goods complex, Cobra Street $5 million

4. Liquor outlet, Windsor Parade $2.82 million

5. Dubbo Court House $2.6 million

6. Industrial building and offices for industrial vacuum manufacturer $1.5 million

7. Office building and carpark for accountants, River Street $1.4 million

8. Caravan park, camping ground and motor home park, Obley Road $1.1 million

9. Construction of commercial buildings, Whylandra Street $1.1 million

10. Industrial building and distribution of steel products, Richard Ryan Place $1 million