Orange is high up on the radar of the state's best regional hubs, and it's in no danger of sliding down its perch any time soon according to those in the know as the city looks to go one better than its second place in 2019.
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The city's again up for a Tidy Town nod, and Keep Australia Beautiful NSW judge Doug MacDonald said Orange continued to prove itself.
"It's just getting better and better and better each year," he said.
Mr MacDonald has visited Orange several times since 1996 and has been impressed with the city each time he's come as part of the competition's judging.
Orange has picked up numerous awards at the awards in recent years, including the best town over 20,000 people in 2019, but Mr MacDonald said the award was more than the "tidy town" named implied.
"There are 14 different categories, we look at how well the township does sustainability and that includes looking after the people, looking after the environment, communication, and how well everything works together," he said.
"A good thing I've notified is Orange has its act together for environmental management and sustainability and looking after its township and it's just getting better and better and better every year."
He said how well things are run is often a major part of what makes a town click.
"Foodcare is a classic example, it's not just a pantry and a way of providing food to those who need it but it's doing it in such a way that those people who really need it really get the result," he said.
"Orange is doing a fantastic job."
Mr MacDonald said COVID-19 had made a big change to how the competition was judged, with Zoom meetings often replacing trips to towns which was "a bit different" to wrap his head around.
"Normally I'll do a circuit around NSW and visit every possible town in the competition but this year with COVID-19 it means I'm not prepared to visit people who are worried I might bring a virus from the city so I respect the situation," he said.
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