FINALLY.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
After 15 long years (which probably seems a lot longer for some) development at the former RAAF site has been approved.
The neglected site on one of the main roads through town has been standing in limbo through court cases, development applications, mergers and elections.
But now, after Tuesday’s announcement that Dubbo Regional Council has given the plans a green light, we can expect to see some work starting at the site as soon as the second quarter next year.
Plans for the site include more than 400 houses as well as a tourism zone which could include food and beverage buildings as well as accommodation – making the current over-grown area much more visually attractive for those travelling to Dubbo, and much, much more useful for those living here.
Community concerns have also been addressed with the controversial bottle shop taken out of the plans.
It’s a win for the current Dubbo Regional Council with current mayor Ben Shields saying former councils “for whatever reason just haven’t had the political will in the past to get this done.”
The base has had a rocky history over the past few years as developers have worked to get a DA passed.
Just last year the development was turned into a local government election issue when the developers filed an appeal to the Land and Environment Court after they had waited 18 weeks for the DA to be approved at local level.
The appeal was filed the day before the election with the developers saying it was good timing because the staff would have to ‘justify to the councillors and mayor why they need to spend money on fighting this in court, and there is an opportunity for the councillors and mayor to champion positive change.’
The developer admitted it had been a struggle in the past seven years to get the work done, but even he said it had been worth it. Mark Stanford said he was happy to be investing in such a large scale project for Dubbo.
Positive change has now come about as per Tuesday’s announcement.
With the announcement sending a ‘clear message’ that Dubbo is open for business, we look forward to reporting on the next major development that’s surely about to be ticked off.