Mr Gartrell, who runs a business on Lake Canobolas Road, told the Central Western Daily he would be ramping up his calls for Towac Valley projects to go ahead to enhance the area and bring more visitors to one of Orange’s most scenic places.

Projects Mr Gartrell is passionate to see completed are the 40 hectare Earth Sanctuary on Lake Canobolas Road, and re-establishing camping at Lake Canobolas.

‘This loop around the mountain is very promotable,” he said.

Mr Gartrell’s call for changes to the area come as a camping group pushes to have Lake Canobolas opened to the public for overnight stays.

He feels the move will be positive for Orange and Cabonne councils.

“I remember around 40 years ago they had camping and mini-golf out there, and on weekends they used to show films and hundreds of people would come to Lake Canobolas,” he said.

“It was very popular.

“It’s still a great lake, but there is no commercial hook.”

The lake was a popular site for people to come and stay when it had an operating caravan park, according to Mr Gartrell.

He said it was particularly popular for people wanting a cheap holiday with their children, and for backpackers working in orchards during the fruit-picking season.

The caravan park closed in the 1980s. Orange City Council could not confirm the reason.

Since then, council has only allowed one group to camp at the lake - the Golden Wanderers motorhome group that stayed there during the weekend.

Council will use this group as a trial for future camping requests.

Mr Gartrell said he would also like to see the Earth Sanctuary used as another asset to regional tourism.

Logging started on the sanctuary in 1999 and work to establish native flora and habitat features continued until 2003.

Orange City Council has been been continuing maintenance work.

“We want to encourage the natural vegetation to establish itself and be fit as a habitat for native animals,” Orange City Council city presentation manager Nigel Hobden said. “It has always been planned as a long-term project.”

Orange City Council would need approval from Cabonne Council to turn the sanctuary into a tourist facility.

Mr Hobden said there were no plans in the near future to launch a development application with Cabonne Council to bring tourists to the Earth Sanctuary.