That's nothing new, many of you will say, but I think it’s long overdue that Bathurst Regional Council updated the size, quality and visual appeal of garbage receptacles throughout the CBD.

In particular, the city’s most popular passive recreation spaces – Kings Parade and Machattie Park – have bins that simply cannot handle the volume of waste generated by a large number of visitors.

Machattie Park, the centrepiece of Bathurst, still has battered and bruised bins from the 1970s which are often seen overflowing on weekends. Kings Parade has more modern bins but they simply do not hold sufficient waste in peak periods.

By contrast, hidden away in Pedrotta’s Lane is a new and stylish (as far as bins go) garbage receptacle that holds a significantly higher volume of waste and is visually more acceptable than all the other bins throughout the city. I’m sure this minor project could make next year’s council budget.

THE opening of the Bathurst Aqua Park at Chifley Dam has given the precinct a long overdue fresh lease on life.

While the crowds were not excessive and it was not really hot enough to lure most swimmers to venture out, it was a good start.

I’m puzzled, though, that during the peak swimming season from December to February that the operating hours will be from 10am to 5pm.

I would have thought with daylight saving an opportunity would exist to operate until 8pm in an attempt to lure Bathurstians for a “cool off” after work. After all, it’s only a short trip out to the dam.

I hope, too, that council looks to improve the camping facilities at the dam which could only be described as substandard. And mobile phone reception has not improved so there is a job for someone - maybe the federal member.

AS a sports enthusiast, it great to see improvements to the city’s facilities but even I question the amount of spending proposed for this sector when it seems the roads budget is negligible.

The surface at the intersection of the Howick and George streets is an embarrassment while Mitre Street between Keppel and Esrom streets and Rocket Street from Peel Street west are also goat tracks.

And that’s not mentioning the cracking and failing hotmix throughout the CBD.

The hidden cost in council’s budget, however, is the cost to repair the repair. For instance, recent road repairs near the intersection of Mitre and Suttor streets literally failed within days.

I’ve said it before, council does not seem to have the expertise to repair and or construct local roads, resulting in double expenditure on the one job.

Whatever happened to Cr Warren Aubin’s pre-election pothole machine? Hot air, I assume. Maybe council’s digital brand should read Step Beyond (the potholes).

BEN Chifley Dam getting a new lease on life with the opening of the aqua park. Now we need better mobile reception there, too.

SMALL, ugly garbage bins throughout the city. Surely it's time for a review.