This fund came about through the merger between the former Dubbo and Wellington councils and has gone into some very worthwhile work that will benefit the region

Along with representatives of Dubbo Regional Council it was a pleasure to be on hand to witness the unveiling of an impressive irrigation system at Tom Culkin Oval.

We watched on while the sprinklers were switched on and off via the use of an iPad, meaning that staff can assess conditions remotely and decide whether to give the oval a drink or not.

The precinct has had upgrades to the tennis courts,  skate park and activity centre, and now the main oval.

With an outdoor gym nearing completion and the fencing of the oval to complete the investment this community hub will also complement the hosting of regional and state events.

Dive in

After that we moved on to Wellington Swimming Pool, where the sod was turned on works to turn it into one of the premier facilities in the region.

For a number of reasons the pool was a disastrous death trap but the new $9 million facility will be state of the art, and will feature a new and expanded pool with disability access, a heated learn to swim pool and a splash pad.

Hines Constructions have a terrific vision for this project and once it is completed it will be a real asset for Wellington, which will again be able to look at attracting country championship carnivals.

We had a chance to head down into the actual pool to see the state of it, and it was easy to see why this work will be so vital as the cracks were quite substantial.

While the pool will be closed this summer, the short-term pain will be worth it as the long-term gain for Wellington and the wider region will be tremendous.

Cave

A $5 million investment was also ticked off for the Wellington Caves, which will feature a new interactive tourism centre.

The project has had development application approval and will become a real feature of a tourist area that is something of a hidden gem.

Looking forward I’d love to see some signage on the highway pointing people down to the caves and golf club precinct, and an expansion of the carpark to really make it a focal point of tourism in the region.

Value added

On Monday I had the pleasure of heading out to the Dubbo Golf Club to present a very special lady with a deserved award.

For more than 20 years Tina Beggs has been a valued helper, and her efforts in promoting the game and encouraging new members to join the ladies golf club has been phenomenal.

She was nominated for an Electorate Award by her colleagues out at the club, and while the ladies were celebrating with a royal themed morning tea I surprised her to present the award, much to the joy of the other lady golfers.

People like Tina help make our community what it is, and her passion for the golf club was evident in the genuine well-wishes she received and the humble nature in which she accepted the award.

I congratulate her on the work she has done, and long may it continue.

Until next week, Troy