Open letter to all candidates in the council elections

Dear Editor,

I am writing this open letter to all candidates seeking election on September 9 for Dubbo Regional Council.

I am very concerned at some of the claims being made by candidates. I seek their responses to the issues listed below.

Firstly, while I hate the idea of a third bin, how is any elected Councillor going to stop it? The Dubbo Regional Council via the unelected Administrator has passed the motions to introduce it.

No elected Councillor can reverse this decision without causing the ratepayer a huge sum of money to do it. If any candidate thinks they can reverse this decision without “breaking the bank”, please tell me, as you will have my vote.

Forward thinking candidates will look at the Council budget and find savings in our rates to offset the cost of the third bin.

I would like the claims being made by former Councillors justified, in that they were responsible for bringing large businesses to Dubbo such as JB-HIFI and Aldi. No business in their right mind would establish an outlet just on the word of one or more Councillors, or Council for that matter. Earlier this year, the CEO of JB Hifi told a breakfast meeting of the Dubbo Chamber of Commerce exactly how he established his business in Dubbo. Apart from the development application, Council had nothing to do with the set up. I was present at that meeting.

For many years, the former Dubbo City Council worked on airlines to have flights to other cities besides Sydney. Fortunately, they are with us now. It is obvious that their business models justified their establishment. For many years, Qantaslink couldn’t even justify weekend flights to and from Sydney, the dollars were just not there.

I would like to know how any former Councillors can claim they were fully, 100 per cent responsible, for example, for the arrival of Jetgo?

I am sure readers to Dubbo Photo News would like answers to my questions from the candidates. I will not vote for any candidate who does not look to future; past alleged “triumphs” don’t impress me.

It is a pity there appears to be no public open forum where my concerns could be answered by candidates. Richard Mutton Former Deputy Mayor Dubbo City Council