Council has released its draft budget for 2021/22.

It includes $8.6 million for urban road capital works and another $10.8 million for regional roads. $1.8 million alone will be spent during the financial year to tar unsealed roads.

Additional bores and the completion of the Boundary Road extension are among the major projects planned for the year. Council also plans to upgrade both Wheelers Lane and Tamworth Street.

Council will also look into new parking technology where a car spaces could be booked through an app.

ALSO MAKING NEWS:

To make ends meet, council has acknowledged projects will need to be cut. In the budget, council's acting chief executive officer Dean Frost said there had "been some challenges faced to get to a surplus budget for 2021/22".

The reconstruction works in Talbragar Street are currently on the chopping block, as is the installation of more gross pollutant traps. Beautification projects for neighborhood centres are also likely to be put on hold.

Councillor Jane Diffey has encouraged anyone who wants to see the document changed to speak up.

"It hasn't been easy based on last year and having the drought as well. But it is a draft budget, it is out for community consultation and it's important that the community has a look at this budget and provide us with your feedback and make submissions if you have issues with any area of it," she said.

"We cannot make any changes unless we have the guidance of the community and so I really encourage the community to have input into this draft budget."

As it currently stands, rates for 2021/22 will increase by two per cent, in line with the rate pegging limit, while sewerage and water charges will rise by 2.5 per cent.

The full draft budget is on the Dubbo Regional Council website.

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