Mayor Reg Kidd hit back at claims by councillor Kevin Duffy that Orange was being penalised for not having an elected member in government, saying the projects that did receive funding in the the last year would serve the city well in the future.

Cr Kidd pointed out 16 projects to gain funding this year, including $22 million each for the Murray Darling Medical School and the Southern Feeder Road.

He said there would always be doomsayers.

“But I and my family and friends love Orange and what it will provide into the future – employment, good education facilities, excellent health facilities, a variety of sporting and cultural activities,” he said.

However, Cr Duffy said a report provided to councillors indicated Orange residents had received tens of millions of dollars less than their Bathurst and Dubbo counterparts.

He attributed the disparity to punishment for electing Shooters, Fishers and Farmers party member Phil Donato at the 2016 byelection.

“We don’t have an elected member in government – Paul Toole’s done a fantastic job in Bathurst,” he said.

Cr Kidd said he looked forward to the completion of Quest apartments and Bloomfield Medical Centre in 2019, as well as the opening of the Department of Industries building in 2020.