Last week I was very proud to announce that Dubbo would be home to a branch of the newly formed Department of Regional NSW.

The new branch means there are up to 100 new jobs heading our way.

This reaffirms what we already know - Dubbo is the capital of western NSW.

We know that government jobs are a great way of supporting industry, and strengthening and diversifying regional economies.

Not only is this a huge win for Dubbo, it's also a great result for the rest of western NSW.

It means more decisions will be made locally by people who know what it means to live, work and thrive in this region.

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Last week I was joined by the Deputy Premier John Barilaro and Energy and Environment Minister Matt Kean to announce that Australia's first Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) would be located right here in the Central West Orana region.

The NSW Government has committed $40 million to coordinate the development of the REZ in a strategic way.

This will ensure we get the land use planning right and the renewables built in places that work for the community - not just developers.

The REZ will be the modern-day equivalent of a traditional power station, capable of powering 1.3 million homes.

It's expected to generate $4.4 billion in investment, create 450 construction jobs, help put downward pressure on electricity prices and allow landowners to diversify their incomes by hosting renewable energy infrastructure.

For more information on the Renewable Energy Zone go to https://energy.nsw.gov.au/renewable-energy-zones.

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On Friday I was pleased to announce that the Flavours of Mudgee Festival - which has a real focus on food and wine produced in the Mudgee region - will receive $20,000 in Flagship Event Funding from the 2020 Regional Event Fund.

Mid-Western Regional Council has tentatively rescheduled the festival to November 21, and I hope this funding can help the event bounce back.

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