Last week we had the Deputy Premier in Orange and we had the opportunity to look at a number of recreational spots, like Lake Canobolas, Gosling Creek, the wetland and green corridors associated with them and of course Brabham Park and the famous Gnoo Blas circuit, where it once was a race track Sir Jack Brabham "cut his teeth" on.

Another in that bracket that comes to mind is Max Stewart, an Orange businessman and much celebrated champion race driver.

Much discussion took place of having a sports complex surrounded buy a road, that was a once revered racetrack.

The Gnoo Blas Classic car club has done an incredible amount of work with interpretative signage at Jack Brabham and, of course, annually stage a huge show each February with over 600 cars coming to Orange over several days.

Their next project is to build a museum on the site to display the incredible amount of memorabilia the club has, including heritage items and a very comprehensive history of motor sport in our region.

This with the existing grounds and amenities at Brabham, with the proposed sports precinct - which will house an international athletics calibre arena, sports fields and facilities for patrons - will see Orange enhance its position as a sporting hub for young and old, and across a myriad of sporting activities.

We have two great golf courses where we see hundreds of community members enjoying the ambiance of the courses for a early morning or late afternoon walk.

At the back of Bloomfield hospital we have Gosling Creek recreational area, and Bloomfield Park, and of course the substantial ground of Bloomfield proper that thousands use during the year for everything from stroll around fields and gardens to various sporting activities.

We also have the TAFE site, which used to be the old Orange "dump" and "night soil paddock" for many years, now rehabilitated with thousands of native trees and shrubs planted. There's also next door, where the Agricultural research station has hundreds of hectares of paddocks with native trees.

In all, Orange is well served as an area with parks, gardens and an abundance of greenspace.

Orange has received a number of substantial grants from the Resources for Regions Program, including toilet facilities at Glenroi Oval, Perry Oval and the skate park, upgrades to the Colour City Caravan Park car park and lighting at the Orange Hockey Centre, as well as the rest stop on Bathurst Road. In all around $1.3 million worth.

This, with a number of other projects council is pursuing, the work being done has received favourable comment from government officials as we continue to get "things done", and having an obviously vibrant community in every sense of the word, even through the debilitating effects of Covid-19, has helped tremendously.

Later in the week it was a pleasure to be in my "old stomping ground" Glenroi to inspect the incredible amount of work happening up there on the parks sporting fields and recreational walkways.

Andrew Gee opened the new lighting that has been installed to improve security and enable people to walk safely through the parks at night.

The BMX dirt track that has been put in is being used, as is the playground equipment and the community centre.

I would encourage folk to go for a walk through this parkland area that is quite extensive and then walk the green corridor that goes from behind the function centre right through to the old Electrolux site - there's many native trees and shrubs that I remember with fondness as a former long -ime resident and councillor Trevor Jaegar and I help plant this area.

I would encourage all to get a map of Orange and experience some of the incredible green spaces that exist.

Future Tunes in Robertson Park on Friday night was fantastic, and we are so lucky to have so many talented people in our midst. The next one is Friday, February 5.

Also in the last week I have had confirmed after several months of discussions another business for Orange - we entertained a number of investment parties who were totally sold on Orange's position in the state and its education, health and economic mix, more will be revealed in the future!

A meeting will be held with Minister Adam Kean shortly to discuss the $2 million investment that has been put into the Mount Canobolas reserve, and to secure further funding for much needed development in the precinct for people to enjoy the attributes of the Mountain and surrounds.

Australia Day planning is progressing well, and there were some very impressive nominations for the various awards, and there will be a big group of folk taking an important step forward in becoming Australian citizens.

Activities will commence in the park with the traditional breakfast and there will lots of singing and other activities to entertain.

Orange is sill buzzing along judging by the numbers at motels, restaurants, pubs, clubs and our numerous leisure spots.

Always look on the bright side of life.

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