BATHURST Regional Council is keen to see Mount Panorama targeted as a business hub as the NSW Government decides how to divvy up a funding pot of more than $4 billion.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Deputy Premier John Barilaro recently announced the priority areas for the $4.2 billion Snowy Hydro Legacy Fund, which the NSW Government has committed to spending in regional NSW.
The fund was set up after the Federal Government purchased the state's share of the Snowy Hydro Scheme.
Mr Barilaro said the priority areas were water infrastructure, digital connectivity (aiming to make NSW mobile blackspot free), improving passenger road and rail, improving freight networks and establishing “special activation business precincts”.
In announcing Parkes as the first special activation business precinct earlier this year, Mr Barilaro said the precincts “would offer a co-ordinated approach to land use and infrastructure planning” with the aim of attracting major employers and creating jobs.
Bathurst mayor Graeme Hanger was pleased with the priority areas chosen.
”Issues of water security, freight links and digital connectivity are key advocacy issues that many councils share and these priorities will help address the issues,” he said.
“Council is also keen to see special activity business precincts developed and has expressed its interest in the future development of Mount Panorama to be targeted as one of these precincts.”
Asked whether council would have a chance to have input on how the Snowy Hydro Legacy Fund would be spent, Cr Hanger said council would continue to lobby the NSW Government on projects of importance.
”The Community Strategic Plan guides the direction of council's projects and programs and we will lobby the State Government to contribute to important projects that benefit the community, such as the Second Circuit at Mount Panorama, for which the State Government has already committed $15 million,” he said.
