Now they know it for sure.

Councillors on Wednesday night rejected the opportunity for council to take a lead role in a new stakeholders group to co-ordinate and promote local tourism opportunities.

The proposal was put forward in a notice of motion from Councillor Jess Jennings, and maybe that’s the reason the plan failed to get off the ground.

It’s no secret that Cr Jennings is on the outer with many of his colleagues and, to be fair, he is as much to blame for that as anyone.

But you would like to think personal – and even political – differences would be put aside when councillors sat down to discuss a proposal that could achieve real results for the region.

For too long Bathurst has been left in Orange and Mudgee’s wake when it comes to the promotion of local food and wine, and a lack of co-ordination has been a major factor in that.

The best solution would be for council to employ a specialist officer to work with all food, wine and tourism operators to promote the region, a relatively small outlay that could provide a real economic shot in the arm for the region.

But, failing that, the chance to lead a stakeholder group should have been an opportunity worth grabbing.

And there’s no time like the present to get started.

Wednesday night’s vote won’t mean the end of all hopes of council finally taking a lead role in the promotion of local food and wine, but it is a blow.

Cr Jennings has every right to feel disappointed – and angry – with the outcome.