If you look down Macquarie Street at the moment you will see a new set of flags with a catchy phrase that sums up one of Dubbo's strengths.
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'Epicentre of Events' is emblazoned on the new flags, drawing attention to our city's place as must-visit destination and a place that sporting events, shows and other entertainment come to reach a regional audience. Later this month Dubbo will play host to an A-League trial match between the Newcastle Jets and Sydney FC. And early next year we will host the NSW Women's Open golf at the Dubbo Golf Club. These are fantastic opportunities to showcase our city and our facilities and your council is constantly looking at other spectacles we can bring. One is obviously an NRL game. There is a great appetite within the community to bring one here. And I have no doubt Dubbo would do it brilliantly.
You only have to look at our rich history in attracting sporting contests. We have hosted NRL trials, City-Country clashes, welcomed the Australian Wallabies for a training occasion and in late August we hosted the National Rugby Championships match between the NSW Country Eagles and Sydney Rays.
With the stadium redevelopment in Sydney, there is a fantastic opportunity to try and lure teams out here for a one-off game, in the rugby league but also the rugby union and other competitions who will be looking for alternate venues.
However, it is important that we don't just focus on the absolute biggest and best.
We have some truly unique events such as the Dubbo Stampede, the only running festival in Australia and potentially the world that is based at a zoo. Dubbo also regularly plays host to a national level athletics event with the New Year Athletics Carnival.
That carnival takes place at Barden Park, widely regarded as the best athletics venue in NSW west of the Blue Mountains. Like Apex Oval it is an example of Dubbo's commitment to great sporting facilities. But don't forget council is also in the process of establishing the Dubbo Cycle Club with a flat track and criterium track, redeveloping Victoria Park No.1 Oval to allow it to host high level rugby union and cricket matches. New fields for soccer, cricket and touch football are also being developed at Pavans and Battistel land.
However, it's not just sport that is a focus. The Dubbo Regional Theatre and Convention Centre is continuing to lure in fantastic shows that are coming straight from some of the nation's biggest theatres. And we also held the Bush Summit there in July, a major one-off event to discuss the future of regional Australia, attracting Australia's most powerful politicians. Our cultural centre is a hub for great exhibitions and displays. You can currently see the great exhibition from the National Maritime Museum and NSW Ports that looks at the role the shipping container plays in our lives.
Dubbo is an epicentre of events and I want to ensure we only get bigger.