“The high street has been on the agenda for many years.  We achieved a $1.8m grant from the RMS.  They wanted their own project manager, which is going to cost $150,000 over three years. 

“Council are putting out tenders now, and the work should start in the middle of the year.  The pedestrian crossing will move a little bit further east.  They may change the direction of Oxley Lane to help people find a parking space.

“The CBD is very hot in summer so gardens and trees are in the plan, and as much parking kept as possible, plus disabled access.

“In Wauchope, we would like to develop a group of volunteers from the community to clean and work on areas that look dishevelled.  A lot of trees and shrubs have been recommended in the master plan for Wauchope,” he said.

“We will start next month in March when the weather is a bit cooler.  We want to make sure there is no rubbish around, which detracts from our town.”

The 2017 Moto Fest and Wauchope’s status as the first motorcycle-friendly town in NSW is something Gary is keen to develop.

“Some of the speed limits were reduced on the Oxley Highway recently, and we’re looking at a comprehensive plan for the management of the highway’s safety.  It’s the most popular motorcycle ride in country New South Wales.

“There’s such a variety of business in Wauchope that for us to become a lobby group for council to improve amenities and infrastructure for the town and the hinterland will mean more growth in the business sector.

“The industrial area in Wauchope is very reasonable, and we want to bring more businesses to our region.

“This year we want to focus on some fun workshops, to encourage people to come to meetings, which can be a bit dry.  For example, going to the Billabong Zoo and Mark Stone can talk about his business there, and we get to look at animals as well,” said Gary.