MAYORAL MATTERS | Australia Day reminds us what a multi-cultural city Orange is

The weather was superb, the park looked an absolute picture and we had 18 new citizens confirmed, and around another 20 turning up to support them.

Twenty different countries were represented and that just endorses what an incredible multi-cultural regional city we live in.

It would be hard now to have a country anywhere in the world that does not have a former Orange resident now living, working and contributing.

In less than 200 years Orange, formerly known as Blackmans Swamp and named after a sergeant Blackman a policeman from Bathurst, has come a long way.

Now we have a very diverse economy, and an incredible diversity of cultures all contributing to Orange's growth and sustainability into the future!

A small proportion of the folk that make Orange `tick' were recognised with Orange's Australia Day awards and congratulations to all the nominees.

The Orange Homemakers Centre has changed hands and millions of dollars are going to be invested in upgrading and changing the face of the centre. Already owners are asking feedback from the community and businesses in the centre. I'd encourage people to have their say; perhaps you have a `great' idea that is sustainable!

Development and building is at possibly an all time high and council is moving into the new electronic DA process which I hope will enhance the timelines in seeing DAs serviced and completed. Just prior to Christmas we had a meeting with industry and listened to concerns. I plan to have another meeting to see if any changes have occurred.

This week the mayor of Cabonne and I are meeting with Minister Matt Kean to discuss Mount Canobolas and specifically the $2 million investment which will be project managed by National Parks.

We want to offer support and the need for a advisory group to make sure the funding is spent taking into account a `triple-bottom line' approach in conjunction with community expectations, future sustainability of the mountain and more importantly prospects for ongoing resources for maintenance and enhancement of this regional icon.

This week we have the start of the Here/Now Exhibition at the Regional Gallery. There will be a 130 artists from across the Central West displaying paintings, sculptures, printmaking and photography. This exhibition was first commenced in 2018 and has been hugely successful in giving young and emerging artists exhibition space for the first time as well as those more experienced exhibitors (the work on the gallery extension is well underway,and let's hope we can see a way clear to see the conservatorium start).

The Banjo Festival is only a week away and I would encourage all to go out to Banjo Paterson Park (on the right going out to Clifton Grove) and to get a sense of `Banjo's time' in Orange.

Go to the restored Emmaville Cottage at the Botanic Gardens (featured on the ABC's Restoration Australia). This cottage has connections to Banjo, and is perhaps his birthplace ... the controversy continues).

On Banjo's birthday, February 17, they will be unveiling a life-sized statue of the great bard at the Yeoval Banjo Centre. Perhaps the future will see more recognition of a couple of other poets who have real connections to Orange including Kenneth Slessor.

We have recently received further road funding and work on the Blowes Road section of the Southern Distributor is well in hand, on time and on budget.

The Gnoo Blas Classic Car Club is doing something different this year due to Covid restrictions. As you know in February the club has over 600 cars exhibited at Brabham Park, rallies and a dinner with over 600 attendees. It's a great boost for the Orange economy. I must declare an interest now as I am an active member with my 1978 XC Fairmont sedan and I attended my first rally in recently!

Well this year they are having a Classic Car Art Exhibition of which I am sure there will be further information coming from well-known journalist Denis Gregory. Remember Gnoo Blas racetrack is the road that encircles Brabham Park and the Bloomfield Hospitals precinct. It has immense historical as well as heritage significance and already the club has a interpretative display board there at Wind Socket Corner.

Some incredible history and the club represents yet another sports group Orange has to offer.

Welcomes coming to the 30-strong cohort of medical students from the University Of Sydney undertaking study at The School of Rural Medicine (University Sydney) at the Bloomfield Health complex. Then we see the first cohort of students undertaking the CSU medical degree through CSU Orange and the University of Western Sydney.

Orange continues to expand as a medical center of excellence and hopefully the State Government will acknowledge that in the near future supporting our bid to be declared a Local Activation Precinct which will help tremendously in the future development of the precinct.

School is back, so all beware of the increased activity around school zones and best wishes for all students and staff for the first term. Let's see it incident free!

Finally a little more background on Orange's 'greenspace'. Council plants over 600 new or replacement trees annually in parks, sportsgrounds and streets.

Then several thousand natives are planted in a number of areas that the community can enjoy such as Gosling Creek, Lake Canobolas, Hinton Reserve and The Wetlands.

All of these need maintenance, and often we get dieback and loss due to drought. Orange's per capital spend in `greenspace' is very high and something that I have pushed for many a year, but one has to be sensible in achieving and maintaining a sensible approach to development' one that considers the needs of the community, the needs of the environment and sustainability.

They must go hand-in-hand.

Finally we have enjoyed a mild and wet Summer to date and Orange looks a treat.