A meeting between Victoria Street shop landlords and Dubbo MP Troy Grant has failed to satisfy Terry and Kath Skinner the government is taking their concerns seriously.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Skinners, who own the Victoria Street shops, say they are “frustrated and annoyed” the Roads and Maritime Service (RMS) will not officially retract its proposed plan to take away all their shopfront parking.
They met with Mr Grant to outline their concerns and to hear what the Dubbo MP had to say about the issue which they say will become an election issue.
“It was good of Troy to come and talk with us; the meeting was mostly positive, he knows this is causing us anxiety because we are in limbo,” Kath Skinner said.
“We know of business people that will be impacted by this proposal, people like us who usually vote conservative, but if this goes ahead, they’ve told us they'd swing their vote to Labor.
“Troy indicated that current plan is only one option and also that B-Triples will not be going through Dubbo, however, the RMS website clearly states that B-Triples will be using the new proposed River Street Bridge and there is no mention the proposal to take our parking away is off the table, so who are we to believe?
“This is why it is not good enough for them to just tell us the initial proposal is not going to happen, which they have, we absolutely need something in writing that it is off the table and what the other options they may now be considering are.”
Dubbo MP Troy Grant said he gave an undertaking to the Skinners that he will meet with the RMS and endeavour to achieve a positive outcome for everyone.
“It was good to meet with Terry and Kath Skinner and get an understanding of their concerns,” he said.
“They are valid concerns, and I am disappointed with the way the RMS communicated with the stakeholders and community in relation to Victoria Street.
“I got a greater understanding of a potential proposal that was raised in a meeting they had with Nationals candidate Dugald Saunders, and Mrs Skinner indicated to me that Alistair Lunn from the RMS has been good with responding to their concerns and subsequent communication.
“The business community of Victoria Street have asked for my help, I have listened and I will advise them on the progress of discussions.”
But, Mrs Skinner said she fears the RMS and State government has gone into a holding pattern or they are faking concern until after the election result is known.
“We are worried they are stalling to see if we stop complaining or they hope that we will just go away and then they'll just go ahead with the plan to take our parking away,” she said.