The area involved is a 3.8 kilometre strip of unsealed road with an alternative greenfield strip.

Central NSW Tourism research shows that the most visited tourist attractions in Central NSW are (in order) Taronga Western Plains Zoo, Parkes Radio Telescope and the Wellington Caves and Phosphate Mine complex.

When it comes to funding the project, Parkes Shire Council has no intention of seeing it off-loaded onto them.

In fact Deputy Mayor Cr John Magill rates the project as being on the bottom line of council’s priority list.

Cr Magill in the company of Michael Greenwood (Economic Development Manager) and Kelly Hendry (Tourism Manager) attended a meeting in Wellington where discussion centred on the project proposal and possible funding options.

Also present were Mark Coulton (Federal Member for Parkes), John Cobb (Federal Member for Calare), the state member for Orange and representatives from Wellington and Dubbo councils, Western Plains Zoo, Wellington Development Incorporated and the CSIRO Parkes Radio Telescope.

At the meeting all councils – Parkes, Wellington, Cabonne and Dubbo, agreed in principle that the project was worth pursuing.

However, Cr Magill informed the

most recent Parkes Shire Council meeting that a lot of facts and figures would have to come forward before the project proceeds.

“Wellington’s really got to drive this and I must say that there certainly wasn’t any evidence of this at the meeting,” Cr Magill said.

“The impression I got was that they (Wellington) really wanted to offload this onto Parkes – saying that it was us who would reap the benefits.

“I believe Wellington has got the job ahead to produce the facts and figures to justify sealing of the road.

Mayor Ken Keith said there was a long way to go on the project.