Later this year, Dubbo will celebrate the 30th anniversary of our sister city partnership with the Japanese city of Minokamo. We will celebrate on two occasions, first with a Dubbo delegation making the trip to Minokamo in October, and then a group from Minokamo coming to visit us in November.
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These will be great opportunities to mark what has become a very special friendship. I am excited to be part of a 20-person delegation to head to Japan. We will attend the Nakasendo Festival and other activities our friends have organised to mark the anniversary.
These trips are a fantastic way to strengthen the bond between the two cities and I am very proud that each of our delegates pay their own way, so there is no cost to ratepayers. A month after we travel over there, Minokamo Mayor Seiichi Ito will lead a group to Dubbo for four days of local festivities.
In order to recognise our great relationship, and show our Japanese friends our esteem for them, I presented a Mayoral Minute to Council proposing we call the private road that runs past the entrance of the Shoyoen Garden "Minokamo Way". Additionally, we will have signs installed in English and Japanese to indicate the name.
The Mayoral Minute was adopted by Council, meaning when our guests come, they will be able to take part in the official unveiling of the signs.
We have a fantastic relationship with Minokamo and they take our friendship very seriously. I think it is important that everyone is aware they actually gifted Dubbo the Shoyoen Garden and Jurien Teahouse. And because of their generosity, I believe the naming of Minokamo is a great way to acknowledge them.
We are also working on something pretty special of our own to give our great friends when we are visiting them.
A report will also be presented to Council in July investigating the creation and installation of interpretive signage depicting the design, construction and ongoing development of the Shoyoen Garden. The purpose of the signage would be to publicly display the city's gratitude to the people of Minokamo for gifting of the Shoyoen and Jurien to Dubbo. It would also inform visitors of the sister city history behind the establishment of the Japanese gardens and their integral role as the centrepiece of the Elizabeth Park Botanical Gardens precinct.
I can't talk highly enough about how amazing our Dubbo Regional Botanic Garden is, and Minokamo Way is just another important piece in the whole experience, which also includes Shoyoen, Oasis Valley, Sensory and Biodiversity Gardens, as well as our incredible new Adventure Playground.
Soon we will also have the exciting new Wiradjuri Cultural Experience, which will be located on the Western side of Elizabeth Park, alongside Windsor Parade. The expansion of this great attraction continues and I would encourage everyone to check it out.