Congratulations to our nurses and staff of Medical Ward on this special annual award.

On behalf of an appreciative community, thank you for all you do caring for your patients.

I wish to acknowledge the work of all nurses and those who service our hospitals and health care facilities, for their commitment in caring for the sick and injured, day-in and day-out, all year long.

Orange has a long association with tenpin bowling, and it's an incredible success story, too.

Aldo and Marisa Belmonte have operated Orange Tenpin Bowl continuously for decades, and I couldn't imagine there'd be many locals who haven't been to their alleys at one time or another.

It's an all-weather and all-year-round sport and activity which caters for all ages and all abilities.

It's also been the training ground to the World Champion, Jason Belmonte.

When tenpin bowling wasn't including in the named businesses or the sporting/entertainment facilities allowed to reopen from June 13, I dropped in on the Health Minister Brad Hazzard at his parliamentary office last week to seek its inclusion.

Mr Hazzard was quite receptive of my suggestion to ease COVID-19 restrictions for these facilities.

After short consideration and quickly consulting his health experts, Minister Hazzard agreed to include tenpin bowling centres to reopen on June 13.

Numbers will initially be restricted to 100 persons per venue for social participation of bowling.

I am assured Aldo and Marisa have already equipped themselves and reconfigured furnishings at their Byng Street alleys to safely cater for bowlers.

The economic impact from COVID-19 is significant and the according to the Government the key to starting the economic engine is fast-pathing infrastructure projects.

I agree that government-funded infrastructure projects will indeed boost the local economy through employment opportunities and resultant economic activity.

But, and there's a big but; receiving this much-needed funding in the timeline to lift our economy at this critical moment rests with projects being shovel-ready.

There's not too many significant projects which are shovel-ready here in Orange, and part of the problem lies with red and green tape, associated with planning and environment, and in some cases the delays in crown lands negotiations.

Last week in Parliament I gave Minister Pavey a nudge on the crown lands negotiation review process, the completion of which will provide the next step towards the development of the new sports stadium the Premier promised.

I've requested meetings with each the State Ministers for Sport, Environment and Tourism, to push for the Mount Canobolas Mountain Bike Trails, which is a project that would significantly benefit Orange and the broader region.

The 2020 Community Building Partnership (CBP) Grants Program will soon close.

Local councils and incorporated not-for-profit groups are eligible to apply as part of a competitive application process.

This grant is for funding of infrastructure projects that promote local participation and deliver positive social, environmental and recreational outcomes.

Applications close at 5pm on 12 June, 2020 so get in quick.

For more information and to apply, click on the following link:

https://www.nsw.gov.au/projects/community-building-partnership/2020-community-building-partnership-program-guidelines

Or feel free to call my office on 02 6363 5199.