Councillors explain South Bridge vote
DUBBO Regional councillors Vicki Etheridge and Greg Mohr have spoken out about why they voted to make public only two of four proposed options for a South Bridge during last week’s Infrastructure and Liveability Committee meeting.
“I wish to address some concerns that have been raised on why I voted against two options for a South Bridge,” Cr Etheridge said in a letter to the editor of
“To be clear, I was elected as a representative of the Central Ward. Central Ward takes in all of residential South Dubbo. This is an area I know very well, and that I am very concerned about.
“At the last election, I stood on a ‘Save Our South’ platform as a result of developers wanting to transform residential South Dubbo
with higher amounts of traffic and denser housing stock, like blocks of flats.
“The residents in South Dubbo do not want more traffic and congestion on their roads as most of South Dubbo already has problems with traffic and service provision. The options I opposed sent traffic directly into residential South Dubbo,” she said.
“I believe if we are to build a South Bridge, it must flow traffic into the CBD – not the quiet neighbourhoods of South Dubbo.
“It is essential that councillors represent the view of their community and not simply throw spanners in the works for silly political games. I deliberately voted to not send traffic through residential South Dubbo. As a councillor I have an obligation to do as my electors have instructed me,” Cr Etheridge said.
Chairman of both the DRC Infrastructure Committee and Dubbo Traffic Committee, Councillor
Greg Mohr, said he was disgusted at the “irresponsible actions of a few councillors” willing to risk the South Bridge infrastructure project for the sake of “point scoring”.
“The two options I voted against would plunge Dubbo Regional Council into a fight with both Taronga Western Plains Zoo and the Dubbo Golf Club.
“Their rubbish idea is to forcibly seize land from the zoo, while running the new bridge road directly facing the Golf Club. How irresponsible is that?” he questioned.
“The majority of the councillors understand the problems with this proposal. I’m not sure why they wanted to cause havoc during the consultation period. Some have suggested it is to make the River Street Bridge look good by comparison.
“Regardless of their motives, any resident of Dubbo knows that road designs like this are plain stupid,” Cr Mohr said.
Cr David Grant had moved an amendment to have the four available options put on public display, instead of just two.
“I am disappointed that the amendment was defeated with only councillor Diffey and deputy mayor, Cr Stephen Lawrence, supporting it,” he said.
“There is no doubt that each of the options are not without their advantages and disadvantages. One of my concerns is that we are looking at options that will have enormous impact on a valuable sporting precinct and recreational area,” Cr Grant said.
HEALTHY Rivers Dubbo has launched a community powered campaign featuring television, radio and newspaper advertisements to highlight concerns about plans to dam the Wambuul Macquarie River at Gin Gin, between Narromine and Warren.
Concerns over a new weir are held for the future of the Macquarie Marshes, heritage and cultural sites, downstream communities, graziers and unregulated irrigators.
Healthy Rivers Dubbo coordinator Mel Gray says Dugald Saunders has a choice to make.
“It’s time for Dugald to stop the haemorrhaging of public funds being used to design a project that will harm the river, wildlife, the Macquarie Marshes and downstream farmers and communities,” she said.
“Change the plans now – rebuild the old weir, don’t damn the Macquarie.”
Water NSW is conducting a survey on its website for community feedback.