Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Centre: Dubbo Regional Council passes rescission motion on two parcels of land previously agreed to

After months of back and forth, a council in the state’s west have decided to withdraw parcels of land proposed for a controversial rehab centre. Here’s the latest.

Despite months of debate and “formal opposition” of the location of a drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre location in the state’s central west, a local council have withdrawn last month’s decision to reoffer parcels of land for reconsideration.

In last night’s meeting, Dubbo Regional Council have decided to void last month’s unanimous decision agreeing to put forward two parcels of land, including the North Bunglegumbie and Green Grove site, instead of the proposed Spears Dr site for the controversial facility.

Earlier this year, the Western NSW Local Health District announced to build the rehab centre on a four-hectare block on Spears Dr after assessing more than 40 parcels of land.

Deputy mayor Richard Ivey put forward the recession motion after Western NSW LHD suggested council to fund half of the cost to reassess the two parcels of land, estimated to be worth over $100,000.

However, council did not confirm the funding process with the state government.

Deputy mayor Richard Ivey. Picture: Ryan Young

“There was a 99 per cent chance they’d [Western NSW LHD] come up with exactly the same conclusion that they’ve come up with before, but they need to go through the process again and that just seems silly,” he told The Dubbo News.

“That would just delay the process even further so why not just say ‘thank you very much’ and rely on the information that we’ve got so far and move forward.”

Labor councillor Joshua Black told the council he spoke with the health ministry and confirmed they “know nothing” about Western NSW LHD’s correspondence with council and the claims of having to pay half of the funds to reassess the land.

Dubbo Regional councillor Joshua Black

Rosewood Grove Action Group representative Rebecca Davey told The Dubbo News she is “extremely disappointed” with the result of last night’s meeting, describing it as a “massive betrayal” to the community and residents living near the proposed centre.

“It is absolutely rubbish,” Ms Davey said.

“We will now be pushing for minister Park to move the location ... if they do decide to proceed with the Spears Dr site, we will oppose it at the Western Regional Planning Panel.

Rosewood Grove Action Group committee member Rebecca Davey in Spears Dr, Dubbo.

“We will engage legal action and take it to the Land and Environment Court because we honestly do not believe that a rehab centre fits the neighbourhood and don’t believe it’s the correct location.”