Big accomplishments

The 2015/16 Year in Review highlights the achievements across the 12 months, as well as providing an indication of the areas where improvement is needed.

At the end of the financial year Dubbo’s gross regional product was worth $356 million and Wellington was worth $260 million.

The town recorded an unemployment rate of 6.9 per cent, considerably higher than the 3.8 per cent in Dubbo, and the NSW average of 5.2 per cent.

When it came to real estate, the median house price in Dubbo was $345,000, while Wellington’s was considerably lower at $153,000.

The median in rent prices also differed considerably. In Dubbo the median rent was $330, compared to $220 in Wellington.

It was good news for the Wellington Community Transport Scheme which saw an increase of 18 per cent to the number of trips undertaken in the year.

However while the number of visitors to the Dubbo branch of the Macquarie Regional Library increased by 13 per cent, in Wellington in went down by three per cent.

Other highlights in the Year in Review report include the adoption of the Crime Prevention Plan, the securing of funding for the $870,000 upgrade to Rygate Park, as well as for the replacement of Dripstone Bridge, and the #seeninwello social media campaign.

Council’s administrator Michael Kneipp said: “2015/16 was a year of growth and change for the communities of Dubbo and Wellington, and it is important to recognise the past performance of the former councils as the new organisation takes shape”.

As a new organisation Dubbo Regional Council was taking advantage of the strengths of the two previous councils and building the organisations capacity to better serve the community, the administrator said.

“Over the remainder of the 2016/17 financial year council will continue to facilitate growth, improve services and invest in facilities and infrastructure that will underpin the long term growth and prosperity for the region,” he said.