BATHURST has won an enviable reputation among regional centres in recent years for not being afraid to "think big" - and our community is reaping the benefits.
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Thinking big has seen Bathurst take a place on the world stage that most regional cities can only dream of, from hosting world championship BMX, skateboarding and cross country events to welcoming rock royalty in Sir Elton John.
And the wonderful news on Friday morning that Australia and New Zealand have been successful in their joint bid to host the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup should have us thinking big again.
Mayor Bobby Bourke indicated on Friday that council was already thinking of ways to leverage off the cup and that's something for us all to get excited about.
The 12 cities to host World Cup matches have already been decided but there could still be an opportunity for Bathurst to become the home base for a visiting international team for the duration of the tournament.
Rydges Mount Panorama offers a world-class accommodation venue in a world-class location and Bathurst has no shortage of quality playing fields for a team to train on.
The money poured into Carrington Park in recent years has produced a playing surface to rival some of the best in the country while a massive redevelopment of Proctor Park has given Bathurst one of the region's top soccer complexes.
And the prospect of hosting an international women's team, along with the global exposure that would bring, could justify spending even more on those facilities.
Council has never been afraid of a "spending money to make money" policy when it comes to local sporting facilities and the Women's World Cup is an opportunity for the region to make further returns on our investments - and all while other cities watch and wish.
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