The upgrade of the skate park precinct at Lions Berry Park is a further testament to improvement, but further work is possible to ensure a successful amenity on many levels.

A Victorian company, Imagination Play, has a suite of resources that can help the Bathurst region, including a coin-operated mini cars concept that could support the charitable sector year-round if groups saw the potential of the activity.

The funding authorities need to have a good, close look at these point-of-difference activities and their potential social and economic benefits.

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A properly conceived addition to the Adventure Playground, to take the functionality of the recreation precinct into new areas of opportunity, alongside the new tennis clubhouse and netball park improvements, would be welcomed across the region.

The Centennial Park project may enjoy some funding support at the management plan level, but we will have to wait and see what level of investment follows.

The next stage for Bathurst in the football complex at Hereford Street and Proctor Park looks to set up new opportunities for sport and recreation, but the links to sports education and fundraising solutions can be found with a willingness to look at a sports study of Bathurst.

It is no coincidence that as Australia is set to defend its Asian Cup and the national side is set to play in the Women’s World Cup in France, the sport of football is launching a new Roadmap 2019-2023.

Football education is the key for this region if it wants to seize an opportunity.

The willingness of state and federal members and the local council to listen and act on ideas from the community is important.

Enough is never enough when it comes to ideas for a community which prides itself on innovation.

Happy new year.