Victoria Street Beautification Committee members have questioned whether the RMS has a plan in place for the Wylandra and Victoria Street intersection, but is keeping it a secret until after the election because it will be unpopular with locals.
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National Party candidate for Dubbo Dugald Saunders disputes that claim.
The committee said it had been seven months since the RMS initially contacted them and they have not seen a new plan.
Members of the Victoria Street Beautification Project Committee are concerned by what they claim are stalling tactics from the RMS and the state government.
"We are worried about the apparent lack of transparency and non-disclosure of the RMS when briefed recently about our Chairperson’s latest conversation with RMS Regional Director,” Owner of Blossoms the Florist Sarah Clews said.
“We are not important enough obviously. We might as well be the Darling River for all the action that’s happening.
“Clearly they have a plan – there are surveyor marks all over the footpath and road which have been there for months; and they have resumed property which they would not be doing if there was no plan – they just don’t want to share it with us because they know we won’t like it.”
Chairperson of the Committee Kath Skinner said that she had been told by the Regional Director that there would not be a plan to consider before the end of February, having been told seven weeks ago that it would be available at the beginning of the month.
"So far, the Committee only has a verbal commitment to the retention of parking in front of the Victoria Street shops," she said.
“We feel stranded not knowing what’s happening,” Owner and Operator of Aussie Rural Margaret Brown said.
“If we can’t see a plan confirming that parking is safe, how do we know they won’t revert to the original proposal to remove it all?”
“Our customers are always asking ‘what’s happening to the parking here?"
Mr Saunders said he is confident the original plan is off the table, and any suggestion there is stalling because of an election is just not true.
"The RMS does not work to a political timetable," he said.
"I have been in regular contact with the RMS over the possibilities for the Victoria St precinct, and am working hard to achieve the best result for the shop owners and the community. I have been to the location quite a few times and looked at the marks on the footpath with members of the committee. The marks have been there for some time as part of an original plan for the precinct. That plan is now off the table, as it won’t satisfy the community and shop owners’ needs, and the RMS is currently working on different plans.
"Those plans are being developed now. The RMS is best placed to advise when they may be finished, but my understanding is the timeframe is mid to late February.
"I have continued to push hard for the right result, and I am confident that will happen in the next few weeks."