Dubbo Residents and Ratepayers Association president Merrilyn Mulcahy said after years of lobbying council, she wanted to be part of the decision making.
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Ms Mulcahy has nominated for the North ward in the upcoming Dubbo Regional Council election and said her role as ratepayers’ president had fuelled her interest in becoming a councillor.
“It’s always been an interest of mine and I think now is the time to move it forward. I see such a divide between the other side of the Blue Mountains and here,” she said.
“I would love to see the whole region prosper, it would be good for everyone.”
Ms Mulcahy said she took a consultative approach to her role with ratepayers, and often has people approaching her to talk about issues within the town.
“I always want to be available to people if they have concerns. I have people come to me know and I want that to continue,” she said.
“I think that consultation is very important and people should know they are able to approach me.”
If elected to council, Ms Mulcahy said she would remain a member of the ratepayers’ association because it would enable her to stay in touch with the issues concerning people.
In her time as president she has been a powerful voice on a number of issues, including the hot topic of a third bin for Dubbo
Ms Mulcahy said she had a number of topics she would look to address if elected.
“I think the plan is for Dubbo to have a ring road by 2036 but I think it needs to happen a lot sooner than that,” Ms Mulcahy said.
“That would make a big difference to the movement of traffic through Dubbo and along the Newell Highway.
“There is also the issue of hospital parking, which I am passionate about, and would like to see something done about that.
“And of course the third bin.”
Ms Mulcahy said she was also disappointed to see the Dubbo Cycle Club could be moved from No.1 Oval and moved down near the Macquarie River.
“There is 130 years of history at that track and it is very highly regarded so to be talking about moving it down to the river, onto floodplains, that’s not going to happen.
Ms Mulcahy said the North ward was an obvious choice for her because so many of the issues she had been campaigning about with the ratepayers association affected the people there.