Latest happenings around local government include concrete steps (as it were) to revive the proposed but ill-starred Indoor Sports Hub project via a new working group; plus council’s front office staff recently bagged a double reward for hi-tech innovation and service quality at a national award ceremony.

Reviving $50M project from the ashes

Bit of a dog with a bone, council is not giving up on its defunded Indoor Sports Hub that promised so much for the region, but which was unceremoniously canned late last year by the NSW Government.

Latest news is that a “working party” has been formed for the project with their first meeting held recently.

Mayor Josh Black famously got into a bit of a public shouting match with the NSW Sports Minster, who ultimately pulled the promised $48.6 million for the project over alleged cost blow-outs, multiple delays, and “scope revisions”.

The Mayor says, however, that with the first meeting of the Dubbo Regional Indoor Sports Hub Working Party it’s now time to look to the future, adding that the rationale for such a regional facility has not diminished.

“No, we haven’t given up on it, neither has the community,” Cr Black told Dubbo Photo News this week.

“The need for this indoor sports facility that dovetails in with diversionary programs for at-risk youth is so great that everyone in this region knows it needs to be built,” he believes.

The wide-ranging group was created from a Notice of Motion from His Honour at the July Ordinary Council meeting.

“This large and diverse group of stakeholders from right across western NSW has been established to continue the fight and lobbying for government funding to see the construction of this vital community infrastructure,” Cr Black said.

“The Indoor Sports Hub and PCYC is a vital part of the social fabric of Dubbo and the wider western region. While the building would be the indoor multisport facility for the whole region, it would also include a larger PCYC where more diversionary programs for at-risk youth could be run.”

He said that the proposed state-of-the-art and futuristic-looking facility, is exactly the type of infrastructure that neglected western parts of NSW deserve.

"Sydney-based politicians don't understand the vast distances that rural kids have to travel if they want to participate in sport, and they certainly have no comprehension that kids miss out on participating because the travel is too much.

“Everyone in western NSW knows that almost a year ago this funding was removed by the NSW Government, but this new working party to lobby for the return of the funds shows that, as a community, we aren’t giving up on seeing the Indoor Sports Hub and PCYC built,” Cr Black said.

Members of the working party include representatives of PCYC NSW, Netball NSW, Basketball NSW, other state sporting bodies, Dubbo Sports Council, Alliance of Western Councils covering 13 councils, Regional Development Australia, local businesses, Dubbo Chamber of Commerce, Dubbo Aboriginal Lands Council, and members of a number of sporting associations and community groups.

Not seeking to pour more fuel on the fire following the funding abruptly being pulled late last year, Cr Black believes that now is the time to look at the project’s ultimate merits, cooly and objectively,

“It was just a disappointing decision, that was all,” Cr Black said.

“The Indoor Sports Hub will be transformative infrastructure… it’s about meeting the region’s growing needs for inclusive sport, youth engagement, and social wellbeing; we’re committed to making it happen,” he concluded.

A recent announcement from the NSW Government of funding for youth programs in the bush — including for Moree, Bourke, Brewarrina, Coonamble, Walgett, Tamworth and Kempsey — highlights the need for more investment in rural youth in country areas.

Double gold for greet-the-public team

Not one, but two awards were recently presented to DRC’s front office crew at a recent Australia-wide prize night.

This involved the “Customer Experience Team” being announced as winners for both “Innovation of the Year” and “Team of the Year” at the 2025 National Customer Service Awards held in Ballina on the North Coast.

The group won their innovation award for utilising a Webchat Co-Pilot program, which supports the digital “front-door” by integrating in-person experience with hi-tech information services, community, manager, Tammy Pickering said.

The Co-pilot system provides staff with immediate access to centralised knowledge when staff deal with the public, Ms Pickering explained.

“We are always looking for ways to improve our services to our community, and the Webchat Co-Pilot system represents our commitment to the development of digital services, while also keeping our face-to-face service a priority,” Ms Pickering revealed.

Launched earlier this year, the program has delivered a number of benefits with operators able to handle twice as many chats at the same time, while ensuring the community receive the most updated information.

“It means that our customers are enjoying faster, clearer, and more-personalised service, powered by intelligent technology and delivered by real people,” Ms Pickering said.

The Customer Experience Team were also announced as the winners of the Team of the Year category for 2025.

“In 2024 the team received a highly-commended in this category,” Ms Pickering said.

“So, it was very exciting to receive the top award this year,” she concluded.