Dubbo mayor Ben Shields is promoting the benefits of a “much-needed” ring road as a survey goes out to ratepayers.
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He says he will lobby the state government if the survey results show a preference for the ring road over its planned $144 million third bridge at River Street.
The mayor is encouraging ratepayers to take part in the survey that includes three questions.
Ratepayers will be asked whether they support the River Street option for the new Dubbo bridge, whether they support a ring road including a flood-proof river crossing, and what the “highest priority” should be for a third bridge crossing.
The options are a “high-level crossing as for during floods, reducing congestion on existing crossings, or to enable a flood-proof by-pass for traffic travelling on the Newell Highway”.
A survey card and reply-paid envelope are being sent out with rates notices this week.
Ratepayers can use the reply-paid envelope or drop their survey into Dubbo Regional Council service centres in Dubbo and Wellington.
Cr Shields said the ring road would divert trucks from a busy intersection to the advantage of West Dubbo residents.
“It would offer trucks on the Newell Highway a chance to go around the city which would reduce congestion at Whylandra Street and make life better for West Dubbo residents, as well as offering another option during flood periods,” he said.
The mayor says the “overwhelming majority” of residents in contact with him are against the planned bridge.
“Ratepayers say it won’t address congestion on Whylandra Street, it won’t take trucks out of the city and it may not even be that useful during flood times and I agree with them,” he said.
“..in order to make a case to the state government it is important to capture the responses to gauge the community opinion. Council will then have valid feedback it can provide to the NSW government.”
Cr Shields fears the building of the bridge at River Street would delay the construction of a “much-needed ring road for decades”.
“There is a chance to do it right the first time which would also save money in the long term and enable Dubbo to continue to grow,” he said.
“Council is giving Dubbo residents a voice and an opportunity to have their say on this issue.
“If the results show the community does not support the River Street option and do support a ring road, we will go back to the government and urge them to rethink their plan.”
