The two-week celebrations will commence with Ignite the Night, packed with fun for the whole family. The evening will feature Edible Alley filled with delicious food and beverages, a variety of performances on the ice, children’s shows, new illuminations and a great line-up of live music.

One of the evening’s highlights will be the show by some of our region’s most talented young musicians who will perform at YJAM. Organised by our Youth Council, the performances will feature a range of vocals and instrumentals in varied styles of pop, folk, rock and jazz.

The McDonald’s Bathurst Ice Rink, two-storey carousel, ferris wheel and illuminations will run throughout the festival and this is a perfect opportunity for the community to come together and enjoy the cool winter weather in our region.

Rug up and bring your family and friends and enjoy a great time out. I look forward to seeing you there.

SMALL businesses make up almost 98 per cent of all NSW businesses, employ about 1.56 million people – almost half the state’s workforce - and generate $47 billion in annual wages and salaries. Needless to say, they are pretty important. 

So it’s great to be able to announce that local small businesses are set to benefit from a share of $30 million to give them better access to the education and training they need to start, run and grow through the NSW Skills for Business Fund. 

The skills fund is at the heart of a new NSW Government small business strategy. 

The NSW Small Business Strategy will help to ensure that NSW remains the easiest and best place in Australia to establish and run a small business. Our small businesses drive the local economy and create jobs and we need to do more to support the skills and capabilities of the people who run them. 

The NSW Small Business Strategy offers a range of support to the more than 710,000 small businesses in NSW. 

The strategy will help to address some of the barriers small businesses face, such as exploring opportunities for further tax relief, making the procurement process less complex and addressing late and extended payment terms. Visit www.industry.nsw.gov.au/business-and-industry-in-nsw

Bus seat belts

ALL regional school buses will have seat belts four years ahead of schedule thanks to a $29 million school bus seat belt blitz in the NSW budget. 

A total of 73 buses across the Bathurst electorate will be fitted out as part of the commitment, ensuring our kids get to school and back home again safely. 

Seat belts will be fast-tracked on regional school buses, with a completion date set for December 2019. 

Promoting participation

COMMUNITY Building Partnership (CBP) grants are available annually for community infrastructure projects. Through the program, the NSW Government ensures funding is available to support organisations that think first and foremost about the needs of locals.

Sports clubs, charities and men’s sheds are just some of the groups that benefit from this program. The grants can pay for improvements to facilities that promote participation in the community.

If your organisation needs some extra funding for the building, refurbishment or enhancement of facilities, then I encourage you to take the time to carefully prepare your application.

Applications for funding will close on Wednesday, August 9. Visit www.communitybuildingpartnership.nsw.gov to check the program guidelines.