Cr Kidd it was “good at this time of the year to look back and consider the big picture” of what council achieved in the past 12 months, and when he did he was proud of its efforts and performance.

A linchpin of those achievements, according to the mayor, was the launch of the first stage of ActivateOrange, a bid for $170 million dollars in investment capital  in the city.

“It includes a CBD revitalisation, new Life Sciences Precinct, expansion of the southern industrial and freight precinct, and upgraded roads, and is awaiting a funding decision from the NSW government,” Cr Kidd said.

“We will add to this plan over the next 12 months to make it the guiding document for Orange’s future economic development.”

The mayor cited the soon-to-be-completed upgrade of 1.4 kilometres of Forest Road leading to Orange hospital and the under-construction Bloomfield Medical Centre as one of the major highlights of 2018.

“I think we can all agree this was a project the community was calling out for,” he said.

“I’m proud the council, along with the state and federal government, as well as James Richmark – the developers of the Bloomfield Medical Centre – have been able to come together to fund this project.”

Council’s footpaths crews laid 4,450 square metres of concrete over 16 projects, including a 1250-metre path in Anson Street between Douglas Place and Matthews Avenue.

There were more than $145 million worth of development applications and modifications approved by council, in addition to  21 compliant development certificates issued.

Cr Kidd said that was a clear sign the city was growing, creating more work for the construction, trade and housing sectors,a s well as retail.

“We’re seeing good growth and progress in the region,” he said.

The mayor said council’s water-storage measures had also stood up to requirements when called upon.

“While the drought has been tough on a lot of people, it’s been wonderful to see good use of the Macquarie Pipeline and our stormwater harvesting schemes,” he said.