I would like to go through some ideas for the future of Bathurst.

New bridge over Macquarie River: In the Western Advocate on March 2, 2015 (“Keeping traffic moving”), Brian Wood stated that in years to come, Hereford Street and the Gordon Edgell low level bridge would both be widened to four lanes and that lower George Street would have an additional four lanes, making a total of six lanes in all.

Also, it was stated that by 2035, there will be 4810 new dwellings at Kelso, boosting the population by around 10,000 people.

With each of these new dwellings having, say, one-and-a-half cars, this would mean an extra 7200 cars that would endeavour to use Hereford and George streets.

A new four-lane bridge with floodgates should be built over the Macquarie, below either Stewart, Peel or Hope streets, to join up with the intersection of Gilmour Street and Ecrates Drive (Laffing Water Estate).

This would reduce the huge traffic along Hereford and George streets.

By having floodgates on the new bridge, this would bank-up the water. With the river "channelled " back to our waterworks complex, it would beautify our once majestic river again and create new water sports as well.

Stanley Street bridge: Rebuilding the Stanley Street bridge over Jordan Creek would also divert traffic from Durham Street.

The northern bypass around Bathurst: About five years ago, several councils were discussing bypasses around their cities and towns. Now Orange has its bypass and Parkes is discussing its bypass with the NSW Government.

Several years ago, I had a letter published by the Western Advocate in which I wrote about the bypass easement, which was proposed and passed by our futuristic forefathers in 1906-7. It would travel from Raglan around Kelso to the Eglinton Bridge. It would be interesting to know if this easement is still viable.