The team’s platform includes fostering new business growth through the development of the arts, education, and diversified tourism, planning for an arts and cultural centre in the region, and new tourism opportunities for wine, sports, events and recreational activities. 

Mr Paine said the group looks at arts as a business which can be part of  tourism development in the region, building on the area’s strong arts and cultural following and events such as Gulgong’s Clay Push and Cementa in Kandos. 

The group supports development of an “adaptable, expandable and fully supported” regional art gallery and if elected to council, would push for council to more actively seek grant funding for the project. 

Group B will push for council to increase tourism event funding,  including not only wine and food events, but also events based on sports, cultural,  recreational activities and education and family events.  The team also wants to look at ways to attract new businesses and encourage existing businesses to expand through the e-commerce opportunities presented by the National Broadband Network (nbn). 

The group supports action on a parenting room, seniors centre, emergency housing and improved recreational facilities such as expanded swimming facilities to cater for the increasing use of the Mudgee Pool. 

Mr Paine said the group would push for council to work with community organisations to develop training opportunities for unemployed youth. 

“We are very interested in projects for families, elderly people and young people, who aren’t represented by the demographics of council,” he said.  “It’s good to have such diversity on the ticket.  It would be good to see people in council who are aware of what happens in different parts of the community.”