Submissions open for Dubbo Regional Council’s Community Safety and Crime Prevention Plan

With the recent spate of break-ins and car thefts, a regional council is seeking community feedback for a safety and crime prevention plan. Here’s the latest.

Dubbo Regional Council has opened submissions towards their crime prevention plan. Photo: Facebook

A council in the state’s central west will seek community feedback ahead of its plans to develop a safety and crime prevention plan amid ongoing break-ins and car thefts.

According to Dubbo Council, it remains committed to the wellbeing and safety of the community, despite rejecting a push for a crime summit 12 months ago.

Councillor Joshua Black told The Dubbo News he would welcome the plan as it would most likely encourage government funding for diversionary programs and policing.

“It’ll be good to get input from community into exactly what the community wants and ways that we can make people feel safe in town,” Mr Black said.

“There’s been a bit of a spate of car thefts and break-ins at the moment so it might be something as simple as campaigning and telling people to lock up.”

A burnt car which was spotted on the side of Mitchell Hwy in Dubbo.

He said he would be interested to hear from the community about the design of public spaces, lighting and other features.

“I think the community are happy for any ideas that might help and reduce the rate of crime in Dubbo,” he said.

Dubbo’s community culture and places director Craig Arms said the plan would highlight council’s role and direct contribution to the issue.

“We want this plan to reflect what our residents feel needs to be done to improve the perception of public safety when utilising public spaces around our city, towns and villages,” Mr Arms said.

“We aren’t the police, and we aren’t the justice system so council can’t apprehend, convict or address specific incidents of crime however there is a lot we can do in this space that will assist the lifestyle we have in the Dubbo region.

“Activated public spaces through clever design and event attraction and support are keys ways council can make a contribution to actual and perceived experiences of safety by the community.”

In 2023, Tamworth Regional Council introduced a community safety and crime prevention 5-year plan to provide an outline of council’s goals regarding community safety.

A Tamworth Regional Council spokesman said there has been an “overwhelmingly positive” reaction from the community to the plan adopted in June 2023.

“The community was heavily involved in the development of the plan and their experiences helped shape what our key strategies are,” the spokesman said.

“The plan aims to create a framework that ensures the council is meeting, or more than often exceeding, our community’s expectation in this space.

“This is apparent across a variety of areas including the upgrade and maintenance of our extensive CCTV network, which is a significant investment.”

Dubbo’s community consultation has started and will run until June 25.

Residents will be able to share their ideas at the Dubbo Rotunda Markets on June 9, Dubbo Square on June 12, Wellington Rotary Markets on June 22 and Western Plains Cultural Centre Foyer June 20.

People can also make submissions via council’s website.

Any news tips? Please email [e-mail]