On a recent visit through Dubbo, Mr Mookhey admitted that it was great to visit towns after a difficult 12 months.

"It's the first time I've had the chance to visit after COVID and really the first time I've been able to visit after the drought because of COVID so it's amazing to see the turn around of the town," he said.

During the time in Dubbo, Mr Mookhey said he had heard the issues being raised around the area and hoped the state government could intervene.

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"I had the opportunity to speak to the Chamber of Commerce and the opportunity to speak to [Dubbo Regional] Council and the overwhelming message I'm getting from them is more help is needed to find skilled labour."

"It's so interesting to hear the impact of low levels of unemployment are having in these businesses and in many senses it's a good problem to have.

"But it's stopping these smalls businesses from growing, so certainly the message I'm taking back is we have to put pressure on the government about a particularly unique problem in the west and that is to get more skilled labour and get more people available to work."

According to Mr Mookhey, small businesses are beginning to thrive after the pandemic.

"The message that they are giving me is that the pandemic has led to a bit of 'mini boom' for Dubbo, especially the tourism sector, and they have been telling me you can't get a room at the zoo until August and occupancy rates are at 98 and 99 per cent across the local hotels and motels."

"Equally people in the ag sector, or are exposed to the sector, are telling the stories about the recent grain harvest means that they can pay back debt and recover from the drought.

"No one is out of the woods but it is a welcome reprieve and still there are challenges and there are things the government should be doing to help especially on the skilled labour front."

Mr Mookhey believes the businesses of Dubbo should be commended on their efforts and believes they could act as the standard for other businesses around the state.

"It's a tribute to the resilience of Dubbo and the region's small businesses that they have survived drought, flood, bushfires and a pandemic all in the last three years. There are many, many lessons that Dubbo businesses could teach the rest of the state and the rest of the country about what resilience looks like."

He was also impressed by council's vision for the city's economic future.

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