Dr George Albert blames the current and former mayors for the demise of “a much-needed medical complex” and the departure of three “highly-qualified doctors and educators”.

“I would be working in Delroy Park with colleagues Dr Bahgat Gerges and Dr Soheir Abadier if we hadn’t got caught up in a bitter, prolonged and expensive battle with council,’’ Dr Albert said.

“We had no option but to take our development elsewhere and Dubbo was the loser.

“Dubbo City Council needs to accept the blame for what happened and start becoming more proactive about attracting new doctors and developments.

“New blood is needed in council. Greg Matthews and Allan Smith have been in the job too long. A whole new bunch of councillors is needed and there should be a public election for the job of mayor.’’

Councillors Smith and Matthews were yesterday tight lipped about comments made by Dr Albert.

“I have nothing to say on the matter,’’ Mayor Smith said.

“I have made my position on Dr Albert very clear. It is on the public record and all documentation has been revealed.’’

Mayor Smith had previously told the Daily Liberal council staff had done everything possible to assist Dr George Albert but the workforce at the proposed medical centre could not be expanded due to State Government planning restrictions.

Councillor Matthews, who was mayor at the height of the Dr Albert row, declined to become involved in “old news”.

“This story and the allegations (made by Dr Albert) are not worth commenting on,’’ he said.

“This will be a negative story.

“I have to let the issue go or I will still be asked to make comment at the age of 80.’’

Dr George Albert and his colleagues purchased land on the corner of Carnegie Avenue and Baird Drive after outgrowing an existing medical practice in Bultje Street.

They clashed with council over local environment planning restrictions on the number of people permitted to work in a residential area.

When the impasse could not be resolved the doctors announced their relocation to Shellharbour.

Central Medical Practice was closed in February 2009, leaving thousands of Dubbo district people without a doctor. Shellharbour Medical Centre opened in March 2009.

“The complex is twice the size of our proposed Delroy Park development and has space dedicated for future expansion,’’ Dr Albert said.

“Amazingly some Dubbo patients travel six hours to Shellharbour to see us. I was in Dubbo last weekend to help with the supervision of exams at the School of Rural Health.

“It was sad to see that Dubbo still has a shortage of full-time general practitioners and specialists.

“The lack of doctors is a worry for the community. Dubbo’s medical school is also suffering because of a shortage of doctors to supervise students.’’

Dr Albert said the new Shellharbour Medical Centre had six doctors and a number of allied health professionals catering for the needs of 9000 patients.

Dr Albert is now an associate professor at the University of Wollongong school of medicine.