Matters of State | Donato

This week with the spike of COVID - 19 cases in Victoria and the closure of the NSW/Victorian borders, we are reminded that we need to maintain vigilance when it comes to social distancing, personal hand hygiene and staying home if unwell so we can continue to mitigate and eliminate the risk of spreading this virus.

Over the past several months our community has successfully followed health orders and been mindful and respectful to others, and the last thing we all want to see is the emergence of new COVID-19 cases in our community.

I also welcome the economic activity that easing of restrictions has brought; we should increasingly support our local businesses.

Please keep active and keep doing what you would normally do, but don't become complacent.

Many of you would be aware of my constant calls on the NSW Government to dump the relocation of the Powerhouse Museum from Ultimo to Parramatta.

A distance of about 20 kilometres and a cost to the tax payer of nearly $2 billion.

Your money! Not the government's!

In fact, my colleague Robert Borsak MLC and I raised this issue with the Premier a few weeks back when we met with her, along with the Deputy Premier and Treasurer.

Financially this just doesn't stack-up.

I was pleased to hear over the weekend the Premier has reconsidered and back flipped on her plan to sell off the Ultimo site.

This is a win for regional NSW, and hopefully some of the money saved will be redirected towards regional infrastructure projects, meaning more jobs.

This government is very city-centric and I won't stand idly by and let them get away with this without shining a light and calling it out for what it is. A waste of taxpayer's money! Money that could be better used in regional communities.

It's great to see so many projects in various stages as I drive around the electorate and with more to come.

Here are some of the projects currently being undertaken: Orange Indoor Cricket Centre at Wade Park, Southern Feeder Road, the Domestic Violence Crisis Centre, Orange Sports Stadium, Parkes Special Activation Precinct, replacement of the Camp Street Bridge at Forbes, flood mitigation works at Puzzle Flat Eugowra, Jack Brabham Park upgrades, Orange and Lucknow lighting upgrades to name a few...

Get out and about and support our local businesses.

They have all been doing it tough over the past few months and remember that money spent locally stays local, and keeps locals employed.

We may not be able to travel overseas or interstate at the moment, but this just gives us the opportunity to discover and explore what's in our own backyard of the electorate of Orange.

We have some great regional towns and sites to explore, and don't forget the little historical villages that offer us a hint of yesteryear.

Phil Donato is the State Member for Orange, a member of the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party.