The strong building figures in Dubbo show the community is resilient despite the drought, says mayor Ben Shields.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
In August, Dubbo Regional Council approved 78 development applications, worth a combined estimated total of $32 million. It included a $1.8 million community or public building, a retail building and four warehouses at $2.5 million.
While the number of applications is on par with the 79 approved during the same month in 2017, the applications are worth considerably more. The developments approved in August 2017 totalled $19 million.
ALSO MAKING NEWS:
According to the Department of Primary Industry’s Enhanced Drought Indicator System, 99.8 per cent of NSW is experiencing drought. 30 per cent of the state is classified as drought affected, 54 per cent is in drought and another 16 per cent is in intense drought.
Dubbo, and most of the Central West is under the drought classification, while Coonabarabran is in intense drought.
“[The development application figure] is just further proof that Dubbo does keep on keeping on despite the fact we’ve been absolutely inundated with this unprecedented drought,” Cr Shields said.
“It does show investment in Dubbo, which is certainly a good thing. We are tracking quite well.”
It’s just further proof that Dubbo does keep on keeping on despite the fact that we’ve been absolutely inundated with this unprecedented drought.
- Mayor Ben Shields
Councillor Jane Diffey said she agreed Dubbo was doing quite well, but said overall, the figures for the start of the 2018/19 financial year had increases and drops.
In July the applications were worth $9 million, compared to the $22 million of July 2017.
Across the first two months of the financial year there have been 130 development applications approved by council, including 48 dwellings.
During the same time period in 2017 there were 162 applications approved.