Wellington-based accountant and consultant Richard Ivey is confident the town can return to its former glory as he runs as a candidate for council in the upcoming local government election.
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Mr Ivey will run as an independent, individual candidate in the Wellington ward for next month's election and after spending 40 years in the town, he believes there are some changes that need to happen.
"I was in favour of amalgamation [between Dubbo and Wellington councils] and still am," he said.
"I don't think it's been successful as it should have been.
"I think that the council has failed to really capitalise on the synergies between Wellington and Dubbo.
"I think there a lot of mutual benefits which could be had. I just think they weren't achieved."
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Mr Ivey also admitted after watching the last group of councillors from a distance, he felt he could help with some changes to how things have been.
"The other thing is I stood from afar and watched what was going on and was horrified," he said.
"I thought it's got to be better than that. I can make a difference."
While Dubbo and Wellington are united under Dubbo Regional Council, Mr Ivey believes the amalgamation which combined the two back in 2016 could have been handled better.
"It could've been better than what has happened so far," he said.
"I think what's about to happen in the old Wellington Shire with the renewable energy stuff, I believe council really need to get behind on it."
Wellington will soon be home to a 200 megawatt solar farm on the Goolma Road which is still under construction and should be completed over the next 12 months.
Mr Ivey believes Dubbo Regional Council could be doing more in terms of helping the project.
"They need to capitalise on it and I don't think they have so far," he said.
For Mr Ivey, he has a passion for Wellington which has been obvious during his 40-year tenure in the town but he feels now is as good a time as any to run for council as looks to wind down his career.
"I've worked here in Wellington for 40 years," he said.
"I've worked throughout Australia and I'm getting close to retirement than I used to be.
"So I thought now is a good time. I've got some spare time, I'm trying to semi-retire.
"I want to put something back into the community."
While there have been some issues in Wellington, Mr Ivey knows every town or city has problems of their own.
"The town has problems but so does Dubbo, so does Orange and so does everyone," he said.
"Wellington is a small town, the problems tend to get focused. They can be solved and not withstanding those problems it is still a fantastic place to live."
Mr Ivey and the six other Wellington ward candidates are just three weeks out from the upcoming election to be held on December 4.
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