Dubbo Council coy about plans for $1.3 million CBD building

Dubbo Council has purchased a property it’s long desired, with a councillor proposing it be used to provide sweet relief to frustrated motorists.

Dubbo Regional Council has purchased a prime piece of CBD real estate for $1.3 million.

The old Carpet Court building at 139-141 Darling Street, situated next to the Dubbo Regional Theatre and Convention Centre, had long been on council’s wish list of properties to acquire and councillors recently agreed to fork out the funds at a confidential meeting.

The old Carpet Court building Dubbo Council purchased for $1.3 million. Picture: Ryan Young

Outspoken local councillor Greg Mohr said he would fight to have the building knocked down and turned into super-sized carpark, which would be an extension of the existing council carpark located on the other side of the Talbragar Street side of the Carpet Court building.

“Council wanted to obtain that building years ago when they built the DRTCC but unfortunately they couldn’t obtain that infrastructure at the time because the owners didn’t want to sell out,” he told The Dubbo News.

“Carparking within the CBD and especially Talbragar Street is a major concern.

“Expanding the carpark that is existing there already would be beneficial to not only to Talbragar Street, but to the CBD in general.”

Dubbo councillor Greg Mohr. Picture: Ryan Young

Cr Mohr said he hoped up to 50 to 60 additional carpark spaces could be made available if the Carpet Court building was turned into a carpark.

“In the short-term council is going to rent that building out until we can come up with a master plan for what we’re going to do.

“There’ll be funding that has to be found to turn it into a carpark. We’ll probably be a budget or two away in the next council, before we work out how we can obtain the money that’s needed to build that car park.”

Dubbo Regional Council CEO Murray Wood says council has multiple ideas for the site. Picture: Ryan Young

The council’s chief executive officer Murray Wood said the $1.3 million the council spent on buying the Carpet Court building had “come from the profit made from council’s land and property development activities”.

“In line with the resolution of the committee of the whole, all documents and considerations in regard to this matter remain confidential,” he said.

“Dubbo Regional Council has a number of ideas for the site which are aligned with its strategic objectives … it provides council the opportunity to practically complete the civic administration precinct between Darling Street, Church Street, Carrington Ave and Talbragar Street.”

Dubbo Mayor Stephen Lawrence said while “no particular use has been designated for the site” a “range of possibilities will be considered”.

“Community consultation will obviously be a feature of any use of the site that involves a change to the provision of services or a significant change to the use of the site,” Cr Lawrence said.