Labor’s state regional development spokesman David Harris will visit Orange today to talk to mayor John Davis about the council’s decision to withdraw funding from the initiative that’s designed to attract citysiders to regional areas.

Like many detractors of the scheme, Mr Harris blames a lack of government funding for Orange’s decision.

He believes state funding should be given at a rate that at least matches dollar-for-dollar the money Evocities councils are expected to contribute. 

In light of Mr Harris’ comments it remains to be seen how long the current Evocities of Bathurst, Dubbo, Wagga Wagga, Albury, Armidale and Tamworth will continue their support.

In making the decision to withdraw from the Evocities project some Orange councillors said they objected to the hefty sums of money member cities were required to give.

Others thought Brand Orange was already having success enticing Sydneysiders over the mountains.

As Bathurst councillor Jess Jennings said, unlike Bathurst, Orange may see more benefit in supporting it’s own marketing initiative, Brand Orange, rather than being part of a cohesive campaign.

Next month the local marketing organisation will visit Sydney’s Watsons Bay for the third time.

While the Brand Orange team is there to host the annual Taste Orange Food and Wine Festival, there’s no doubt they will also answer plenty of questions about Orange’s lifestyle and job and housing opportunities.

Only time will tell if Orange’s decision to pull away from the Evocities campaign was a wise one.

What remains certain however is that Orange is a unique city, with so many unique selling points.

Perhaps being lobbed in the mix with other cities with little in common, apart from their status as a regional city, doesn’t make sense.