Our region is driven to succeed despite some pretty big challenges and often with the odds stacked against us.

Certainly, there have been some wins for the region in recent years. The new Tomingley gold mine, the long-awaited zirconia project, the redevelopment of the Dubbo Hospital, a solar energy plant  and high investor interest in Dubbo’s housing market, which has spurred big residential developments. There would be others.

Those advances came on top of a resilient agricultural sector (solid even when battered by the forces of nature like drought and flooding), a general mining industry that has weathered the minerals downturn better than its peers in other regions, constantly increasing tourism revenue and, in Dubbo, an unemployment level that is way lower than the NSW or national rates.

Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show the Orana and Far West region enjoyed a 1.8 per cent expansion in gross domestic product in 2015. That high compares with the Central West at 0.2 per cent and comes only three years after our region was in negative territory.

But, even with its success, Orana and the Far West was way lower in growth than Sydney economic regions.

The city-regional divide may have something to do with that. It wouldn’t be driven only by Sydney’s massive house prices.

Communities would be entitled to ask whether that has anything to do with expenditure and services not quite reaching them on the far horizons from Sydney in quite the dollar amounts and frequency they are needed.

Recent years have been tough in the area. If the residents can achieve the turn around they did against the odds, imagine what could be done with improved communications services like ready access to the internet and a half-decent mobile phone network, improved travel times and transport infrastructure, more money for education to help build the local skills pool and for health – the hospital upgrade will not address all the issues.

Those would just be some of the items on what would be a long list. But, the list would not be full of wishes or wishful thinking.

This region exploits its abilities and opportunities to power its way onwards and upwards. Government should provide the platforms to help it push further ahead.