Yes, we are blessed with gold resources that have played a major role in providing well-paid employment and a huge boost for supporting industries; a hospital precinct that probably goes close to providing the best health service outside Sydney and Newcastle; a university campus and private schools that are striving to compete with their Sydney cousins, and decentralised government departments that provide a further shot in the arm to our economy.

But with all that I see decline: Kelly's Hotel, La Porchetta, Eighteen 70, The Union Bank, Furniture Warehouse - all closing down in the last six months. Add big players like Electrolux and Myer, and you wonder if we're not seeing a trend line.

The question is: why? Do our elected representatives have a vision for Orange? Do they have a plan to achieve that vision? And, more importantly, are they passionate enough and have sufficient ability to make that plan come to fruition? I'm starting to wonder.

A magnificent new hospital is built and eight years later access roads and parking still haven't been sorted; decades of argument and a simple public toilet can't be built in the centre of town; 20 years of planning and the Northern Distributor Road is built under specification leading to numerous rebuilds; millions in ratepayers' money is invested in land surrounding the airport only to have planned business investments quashed; more millions are spent on a pipeline to the Macquarie to drought-proof Orange and yet we are on the verge of level four water restrictions; with the demise of Email all the surrounding businesses suffer and there seems to be no apparent effort being made to attract new industries to the increasing number of vacant buildings in southern Edward Street; 20-metre by 20-metre developments have been approved for Shiralee ... I could continue ad nauseam.

Do I have answers? Well, maybe some ideas. We have a burgeoning food and wine industry thanks to some very passionate people. We attract thousands visitors to events that are increasingly booked out. But these events are always exposed to our highly unpredictable weather. We had the solution to this right under our noses with the empty Bunnings building big enough to house huge crowds. Parking, power and lighting are already there - it just needed toilets. Not only could this building have catered for our food and wine industry but it could have housed many other major exhibitions that would have attracted tourists and money to Orange.

The Myer building is at last being refurbished. Unfortunately, the major retailer that would have provided the essential drawcard has pulled out. So now we are having a food court. Other than the six food outlets in the existing complex there are an additional 27 food outlets within a five-minute walk between Lords Place and Sale Street. Many of these look to be doing it tough, and I would imagine that the proposed food court will spell the end for a number of these existing businesses. What about the drawcard? Bathurst has The Good Guys, JB HiFi and Target, all absent in Orange. Where's the vision? Do we have a highly-qualified lobbyist passionately arguing to get these businesses to Orange, or do we just concentrate on our roads and footpaths?

POLL: Have your say ...

The Bathurst issue bugs me. It started with the loss of our Somerville Collection which is now one of Bathurst's major tourist drawcards. They clearly have a local politician that has some influence in government, which makes a difference. One way or the other we may also get that influence. According to the latest round of federal budget allocations we seem to miss out on that level, too - a paltry percentage of what we applied for being granted. So is the federal member ineffective or are we just hopeless at applying for grants and following those applications up with the all-important lobbying?

Bathurst seems to have the knack of thinking big and getting what they wish for. They build on their Mount Panorama reputation, their word-class trotting track, their international BMX track, their sporting fields which are good enough to attract Sydney games. With it comes a reputation that 'Bathurst knows how to put on big events'.

We could have a world-class mountain bike track but squabbles with environmentalists and a failure to get federal funding seem to grind it to a standstill.

Our food and wine industry is a top-shelf attraction for grey nomads, but Trundle and Trangie have better caravan parks than us. Don't tell me they are not a good investment and they don't spend enough money to make it worthwhile. I am one and I know what they bring to towns that they frequent. If we had the vision and ability to create a five star caravan park the returns would be enormous. Put one at Lake Canobolas, provide buses to the wineries and restaurants and watch the money roll in.

Maybe we'll be lucky enough to somehow get that $24 million grant for a sporting complex. This would allow us to compete with Mudgee, Bathurst and Dubbo for major events. Money attracts money, and it would give us a shot at major sporting events. This in turn creates an environment that lets Orange be considered for events like the Jimmy Barnes concert and a host more. Our food and wine industry will build on this. But to win that grant it will take an awful lot more effort and passion than has been displayed to date.

With the right council incentives we might see some life pumped into southern end of Edward Street. With some innovative thought and modelling a solar power system could drive the Macquarie River pumps to keep our water storages topped up during the good seasons, greatly reducing running costs. We might be able to move beyond petty arguments to develop a world-class mountain bike track. If we dared to take over the old Bunnings building we could weather-proof our food and wine events. And, heaven forbid, maybe we could attract thousands of Grey Nomads to take advantage of our cooler climate in a five star caravan park at the lake.

And maybe, just maybe, Orange City Council can ride this wave and start developing a long-term vision for Orange and provide a decent return to some of the highest rates paid in country NSW.

I want Orange to be a strong and vibrant town that offers long-term, meaningful employment for my children and grandchildren without putting all of our eggs in the mining, Department of Primary Industries and health services basket. But that is going to take better planning, a defined vision, strong, professional lobbying and a great deal more passion displayed by our representatives at all levels of government.

One can only hope.