NSW · Orana (Central West) · Local council, made simple
Dubbo Regional Council
The major regional council of the Orana / Central West — around 57,000 people across Dubbo, Wellington and a wide spread of villages, and home to Taronga Western Plains Zoo. Dubbo is the western plains' main service, health, transport, education and agricultural hub. The council runs the local services you use every week — waste, water, roads, libraries, parks, the airport and the regional livestock markets — and sets your rates. Here's the snapshot, then the stuff that affects your week.
Everyday essentials
The things people actually need from the council — fast.
Get to know your council
The basics, in one tap — open any card for key facts and a link to the official source.
This year's rate rise, how it compares across NSW, and why bills differ.
2025–26 rate peg: 4.2%
Open →Budget & financesHow financially healthy the council is, measured against official benchmarks.
Meets 6 of 9 OLG financial benchmarks
Open →Crime & safetyDubbo's recorded crime rates, side by side with the NSW average.
Higher than NSW across the board — read the context
Open →Mayor & councillorsWho represents you — and where to read their official profiles.
Mayor: Josh Black (Labor)
Open →Elections & votingWhen the next council election is, and how voting works.
Next election: Sat 9 Sep 2028
Open →Contact & servicesHow to reach the council and report a problem.
Customer service: (02) 6801 4000
Open →City profileThe basics: how many people live here, how big the area is.
Population: ~57,000 (2023–24)
Open →What's happening
3 updatesRecent items from Dubbo Regional Council's public channels, in plain language.
- Development
$15.3M funding for PCYC Sports World redevelopment
Mayor Josh Black welcomed $15.3 million in joint NSW Government and PCYC funding to upgrade Dubbo's PCYC Sports World, including refurbished sports halls, a new youth hub, gym and multi-purpose program rooms.
What this means for you: The project is set to expand indoor sport and youth facilities in Dubbo; the council's news page has details and timing.
Source: Dubbo Regional Council — Mayor welcomes $15.3M for PCYC Sports World redevelopment
- Development
Non-potable water pipeline nears completion
The council's ~19 km non-potable water pipeline — transferring groundwater from recreational bores to the John Gilbert Water Treatment Plant to support water security during drought — is in the final stages of construction, delivered under the Australian Government's Water for the Future program.
What this means for you: Once complete, the pipeline is intended to help secure the Dubbo region's water supply in dry periods; the council's major-works page tracks progress.
- Development
Livestock Markets master plan on public exhibition
The council endorsed a master plan for the Dubbo Regional Livestock Markets for public exhibition (from 28 January 2026) and committed more than $10.29 million over three financial years to modernise the saleyard, including sheep-yard redevelopment, expanded electronic-identification scanning and water-recycling and solar works.
What this means for you: If you use or live near the saleyards, the plan sets out how one of Australia's largest livestock selling centres will be upgraded over coming years; the exhibition period invited community feedback.
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