Cr Shields said he wants the commitment made by each party before the March 23 state election, ensuring the funding is set for Dubbo no matter who holds government office following the election process. 

"Both the opposition and the current government need to take the issue of a rehab centre in Dubbo seriously," he said. 

"We've heard from candidates on the ground, they support it, but we have not heard a substantial commitment from the government or the opposition that they'll do it.

"That's clearly not good enough."

Cr Shields said it is council's number one social priority to establish a drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre in Dubbo.

"We will work closely with whoever is in government to make it happen," he said.

"We have available options including the gift of land, we want this to happen, and this issue should be above petty party politics.

"People who control the treasury benches have to actually commit to it rather than sweet-talking local candidates to say they support it but not actually going to deliver it.

"Candidates need to remember they cannot just get on the populist 24-hour police bandwagon and not commit to other essential services as well, the most obvious of those being a drug and alcohol rehab centre," Cr Shields said. 

"The appropriate minister and shadow minister need to act before March 23 and commit otherwise voters rightly will turn their noses at them."

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