THERE is a theory that Australia shuts down between Melbourne Cup day and Australia Day, its citizens lulled to sleep by the hot weather (which doesn't always apply in Bathurst), the soothing sounds of cricket on the radio and the drone of the neighbourhood mowers.
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Bathurst, however, can't afford to nod off as Christmas approaches, the temperature rises and the days get longer. There's simply too much to do.
We're down to less than three months now before one of the truly global music superstars, Sir Elton John, sits down at his piano at Carrington Park and begins belting out some familiar tunes.
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We've known for nine months that he's on his way, but council still seems curiously reluctant to confirm any events to be held in association with the concert to take advantage of the visitors to the city.
More than 20,000 people are expected to pack into Carrington Park on Wednesday, January 22, 2020 and they aren't all going to be locals.
Bathurst needs to make sure it extracts the full benefits from what promises to be a mammoth event: for local businesses, local tourist attractions and for the perception of the city itself.
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A fast rail strategy for NSW is due to be finalised before the end of the year and though Member for Bathurst Paul Toole has cautioned that our city is unlikely to be chosen for a new fast rail line, the strategy may identify improvements to quicken our journey to Sydney.
This NSW Government has taken justifiable pride in being a building government and if this strategy is going to provide a blueprint for its spending on rail in years to come, Bathurst needs to ensure its rail line features.
And then there's water.
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Barring weeks of rain, Bathurst is likely to end the year on extreme water restrictions - which would have been unthinkable just 12 months ago.
Lawns are dying around the city, much-loved gardens are on the tightest of rations and the region's irrigators have had their allocations cut to the bone.
Our dam will fill again, but, in the meantime, some big decisions have to be made to reduce the chances of the city finding itself in this position again.
Water, transport, tourism - and that's just the start of it. As summer approaches, it's time for Bathurst to get busy.
