A donation of $4000 was provided by CSU’s Community-University Partnership to assist with the cathedral’s ongoing restoration.

CSU Bathurst head of campus Associate Professor Chika Anyanwu said the preservation of regional cultural and historical heritage was part of the university’s goals.

“We are proud to make a little contribution towards the restoration of the cathedral, which is the second oldest Catholic cathedral in continuous use in Australia,” he said.

​Cathedral Restoration Project Committee chair Phil Burgett said the grant was a tangible sign of the university's desire to be involved in the restoration and its commitment to the city of Bathurst.

“The grant provides a valuable and timely contribution to the costs associated with landscaping works and proposed changes to the interior of the cathedral,” he said.

In 2016, the Cathedral of St Michael and St John Restoration Committee developed concept plans for the next major phases of the restoration project.

This included a series of consultation meetings with parishioners and stakeholder groups, to brief them on the plans and formally survey the level of satisfaction in their observations and feedback.

The outcomes included a high level of engagement and satisfaction with the proposals and provided valuable ideas for further refinement.