The issue was first raised by Cr Ryan in 2017, not long after he was elected.

He's now renewing the push for a recreational lake in Dubbo because of the high community interest it received.

Cr Ryan said it could be anything from a small lake to dip your feet into or row a boat, to something larger where people would be able to ski.

Growing up in Shepparton, Cr Ryan said there could be up to 5000 people at their man-made lake during summer.

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He said a lake would not only attract visitors to the town, but would also be beneficial to local residents. And he knows a number of tradies who would love to build a house on the water.

"I'm not suggesting the council goes out and spends money I'm purely suggesting we look at ways in which potentially a private developer could do this," Cr Ryan said.

"There are lots of farmers out west, cotton growers and irrigators and they've got 50 acre dams, they've got their own lakes that they stay on. If a single farming family out west can have a lake why are we denying it to 40,000?

"If a town like Temora can built their own lake, if towns like Condobolin and Goondiwindi can build their own lake, I think it's actually quite shameful that we don't have one."

Council staff will consult with the community to gather feedback on the recreational lake.

Councillor Kevin Parker said the lake had been on the agenda before and came back as not being feasible, but he supported the community being consulted on the idea.

Councillor Jane Diffey felt the same.

While she admitted she wasn't "overly excited" about the possibility of a man-made lake because there were other things for council to spend money on, she said she was happy for the public to be consulted.

Mayor Stephen Lawrence said the idea of a recreational lake in Dubbo was "a sound one" but it would all depend on the size and scope, feasibility and the cost.

"Supporting it certainly doesn't bind council to go and build a lake tomorrow, it's just getting the matter on the agenda for it to be considered at council," he said.

Cr Ryan's lake proposal was supported by all the councillors at the council meeting.

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