The NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) and Orange Region Tourism are now collaborating in a significant $150,000 partnership to boost the region as a key tourism destination.

The DPI will help resource a combined website across the three local government areas to help promote the primary producers who drive the region’s economy.

The website and ongoing campaign to promote the Central West will also focus on getting people to the villages, from Millthorpe to Molong.

As Orange’s second-biggest employer, with more than 700 staff in the Central West, DPI’s support will help position the region as a destination of choice through a unified approach.

Speaking from agritourism hub Hillside Harvest, DPI director general Scott Hansen said the partnership is a reflection of the NSW government’s long-term commitment to the region.

“DPI opened its doors at the current Kite Street premises in 1992, and 25 years later the department and the region continue to benefit from the move to the region,” he said.

“This partnership with ORT is another step towards our goals of enabling job creation, economic growth, and engaging in mutually beneficial relationships with the community.

“We’re also eager to see the strategic development of agritourism, so that initiatives such as DPI’s ‘Visit My Farm’ trial at locations including Hillside Harvest can continue to thrive in regional NSW.

“These initiatives and our new ORT partnership will bring new people to the country and introduce them to the state’s primary industries,” said Mr Hansen.

Orange Region Tourism chairman Peter Robson said the board’s mission is to create partnerships through collaboration and engagement, and DPI assistance is integral to working towards this cohesive approach.

“This partnership is monumental for ORT, as we focus greatly on working together as one, to promote the local region and all it has to offer,” he said.

“It will allow us to further unify and target our approach, with the goal to encourage even more people to flock to the Orange region to live, work and visit.”

Mr Hansen that was another of DPI’s goals.

“With more people coming to visit the region and getting to know it we can deepen the talent pool from which we can recruit, because it will be less scary for people to consider relocating.”