Orange voters are reserving judgement and giving Phil Donato a chance to prove himself in state parliament.
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Mr Donato held a meet and greet in Robertson Park on Thursday, chatting to voters around a sausage sizzle.
“He listens, and he’s not coming from a corporate or an ideological view,” Spring Terrace’s Paul Knight said.
“He’s having a fresh look at Orange and the electorate, he’s still got to put runs on the board and it’s early days.
“I have confidence he can deliver.”
Mr Knight wants to see further funding, from the state government’s resources for regions program, directed to Forest Road, Spring Hill township and Whiley Road to support traffic generated by the Cadia mine.
“They need to recognise the amount of traffic these roads take servicing the mine,” he said.
Cabonne resident Robert Armstrong said he’d voted for Mr Donato because of Mr Baird’s action as NSW Premier.
Mr Armstrong said he wanted to tell Mr Donato that not everyone in the Cabonne area was against amalgamations.
“I’m all for council amalgamations, there’s just as many people who are for as against it,” he said.
“Cabonne is more than Molong and Manildra, it’s disgraceful that they’re throwing more ratepayers money on a cause where they’ve only got at least 50 per cent support.”
Orange’s Margaret Balsom didn’t vote for Mr Donato, “but I’m glad he’s in”.
“My impression is that he’s had an important position in this community where he considers people,” she said.
“It was good to talk to him today, he knows this isn’t a job for life.”
Ms Balsom said she would like to see Mr Donato work to help deliver more honesty in mental health care.
Forest Reefs farmer Terry Nixon said he was impressed that Mr Donato didn’t appear to be a “fly-by-night” candidate just in it for his own rewards.
“He seems to have his feet on the ground, he’s not in it for the simple possibility of being a politician,” Mr Nixon said.
Mr Nixon said shooters only seemed to exist on the eve of an election.
“The Nats are Liberal Party a---lickers, they don’t represent who they claim to represent,” he said.
“He’s upset a balance, a lot of these politicians have taken people for granted and Phil is there to interfere with their cosy little arrangements.”
Modest crowd meets Donato
A modest crowd braved the heat in Robertson Park on Thursday to meet Orange MP Phil Donato and talk issues they want action on.
Despite not attracting as many people as a similar event in Forbes, Mr Donato said it went “reasonably well”.
“It was a good opportunity to get out and meet people,” he said.
“We’ve had people from all over, supporters and voters from far north NSW, Sydney and many locals who have filtered in during the day.
“From today I’ve been told a few things about roads around where there’s concerns and even people in Cabonne who are supportive of amalgamations.
“It’s a good chance to talk about those issues in a relaxed and informal setting.”
Mr Donato will hold another meet and greet event at Cooke Park in Parkes on Friday.