Dubbo Regional Council: Health Minister urges council to consider alternative sites
The proposed location of Dubbo’s drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre is still in debate, with the state’s Health Minister urging council to make a decision.
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The location of a soon-to-be-built drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre in the state’s central west is still up in the air, with the state’s Health Minister urging council to make a decision on a new location.
In Thursday night’s meeting, Dubbo Regional Council discussed their unanimous objections to the proposed location and committed to work with relevant departments to identify a more suitable location.
However, councillors voted six to four, calling for a report from council’s chief executive Murray Wood to explore the possible provision of council land, including Bunglegumbie Rd, for the rehab facility.
The Western NSW Local Health District announced the facility would be built on a four-hectare site in Spears Dr, in a residential area of West Dubbo, in late February this year.
“I feel like we would get a better outcome if we work closely with the Western NSWLHD Local Health District on getting a more appropriate place for the alcohol and other drugs facility,” Councillor Pam Wells said.
“There are better land parcels out there for us to pursue as a council and work with the WNSWLHD to ensure we get the right centre in the right place to provide the right service for people who need to use it.”
NSW Health Minister Ryan Park urged council to “come forward” with alternative locations to the Spears Dr site.
“Council-owned land at North Bunglegumbie was previously considered as a potential site by the local health district (LHD) and initial investigations by the LHD indicated it could be appropriate but in 2022 council staff advised that it was no longer available,” Mr Park said.
“If council has alternatives, such as the North Bunglegumbie site, that meet the requirements of the nature of the service, that can be transferred to the Local Health District and which can be made ready for the project without substantial delays, then I urge them to bring those alternatives to the table so they can be carefully considered.”
Labor senator and previous Dubbo mayor Stephen Lawrence said council have “derailed” a long-term government and community project by disregarding the former proposed location.
“From the state government’s perspective, it [North Bunglegumbie] became the preferred site after an exhaustive process of consideration of a whole range of sites,” Mr Lawrence said.
Mr Lawrence advised that if the site on North Bunglegumbie was selected, the project would not be delayed any longer than four months.
Alongside other local residents, Edin Hoogesteger told council the proposed facility on the Spears Dr location “blindsided” the Rosewood Dr community while feeling “frustrated” and “ignored”.
“We can all agree on the need for the centre - this is a discussion about the centre’s location,” he said.
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