In that sense, the CSP document is the highest level of planning document that our council produces and uses.

So, how do we find out what the community expects to happen? What happened last time council developed a CSP shows how it works.

Council’s last community-wide conversation about the city’s future resulted in water security for sustainable growth topping the priority list.

Now, seven years on from that community consultation and communication, I am proud to say on behalf of council that the community’s voice were not only heard but became a reality.

Seven years later Suma Park Dam wall has been raised, which has increased storage capacity, we have a pipeline to the Macquarie River, and Orange’s award-winning and pioneering stormwater harvesting schemes,as well as strategic use of Gosling Creek, Spring Creek and Lake Canobolas reservoirs.

An ongoing community education program has resulted in Orange having one of the lowest average consumptive uses of potable water in Australia, and security to ensure sustainable economic development.

All of the community should take a hearty congratulations.

Council has just been through a similar communication and consultation process to assemble the community’s priorities for the future.

The key themes have now been assembled and grouped under four main headings: Live, Preserve, Prosper and Collaborate.

The key points that have emerged point to giving a high priority to sport and recreation, building community, roads, the environment, and a greater emphasis on parks and open spaces.

The CSP draft is only one part of the puzzle, with council and the community still facing the tough decisions about dealing with competing priorities and balancing the budget.

This aspect will be out for public comment and feedback for 28 days. I ask for your comment and feedback on the draft document.

The CSP will be an important checklist as we work through these complex matters together.

Figures released recently show Orange as having a relatively low unemployed rate compared to city’s of similar size.

We also have a very high number of development applications and, judging by the recent business awards, incredible growth in a broad range of business and industries.

There are some interesting possibilities on the books also, and with two new motels under construction Orange is moving ahead as always.

Often that growth is not as noticeable as some would like, but that is sustainable economic development – reality not conjecture