Tragically, the road toll in the Western region of the state has been rising over the past three years.

Forty lives were lost in 2014, 55 in 2015 and 64 lives were lost in 2016.

To help stop this trend I launched ‘Operation West Force’ in Dubbo last week, a six-week road safety operation across the western region with one aim, to reduce road related trauma.

The NSW Police will run a high-visibility policing operation specifically aimed at driving down the road toll in the western region.

For six weeks there will be more police on our roads targeting high-risk behaviour which contributed to our road toll.

Police will be targeting speeding, wearing of seatbelts, drink and drug driving, fatigue and the use of mobile phones while behind the wheel.

I urge everyone to take extra care on our roads, watch out for others and take note of the signs of fatigue.

Too many families are torn apart by the loss of life on our roads.

Slow down, don’t drink and drive, make sure you fasten your seatbelt and leave your mobile phone safely in your pocket.

Police will not hesitate to book drivers found to be behaving dangerously.

Last week I had the honour, alongside Dubbo Regional Council Administrator Michael Kniepp, to inspect the recently completed $1.15 million upgrade to accommodation and facilities at the Wellington Caves.

This investment into the Caves complex was funded under the NSW Governments Restart Cobbora Transition Fund and will help attract visitors to the region.

The expansion includes work on the accommodation facilities with the addition of an outdoor kitchen, BBQ’s and a swimming pool.

This investment will help to increases tours of the caves and work towards keeping tourists in the region longer.

The Dubbo electorate is extremely lucky when it comes to tourism and tourist attractions.

We have everything from the aviation museum in Narromine, Dubbo’s Taronga Western Plains Zoo, the Old Dubbo Goal, Wellington’s Caves and our course historical Gulgong and the beautiful wine region of Mudgee.

During March seniors can look forward to local celebrations during the 2017 Seniors Festival.

The Trangie Aboriginal Land Council, Mid-Western Regional Council, Community Connect Services and Dubbo Regional Council have received grants from the NSW Government to help deliver Seniors Week projects to their communities.

The 2017 NSW senior’s festival grants support events that will help our seniors live active, healthy and social lives. I encourage everyone to get involved.

Now in its 59th year, the NSW Seniors Festival is the largest festival for seniors in the Southern Hemisphere, with around 500,000 people taking part in more than 1,000 free or discounted events across the state.

The celebration of seniors has grown from a week-long program to a 10-day festival, prompting the event being renamed NSW Seniors Festival.

NSW Seniors Festival will run until March 12.

For more information, visit www.nswseniorsfestival.com.au.