A truly visionary approach is to build a completely new four lane, (each direction, eight lanes in total) elevated expressway similar in construction to ANZAC Bridge (for the Blue Mountains, Jamieson Valley and Oberon section) from the M4 at Emu Plains to Bathurst via Oberon and the Jamieson Valley encompassing the vista of the Three Sisters, Blue Mountains and Jamieson Valley with links/feeder roads to Lithgow and Jenolan Caves.

Include express limited stops passenger and freight railway lines providing a direct route,  bypassing the congested, Blue Mountains allowing reduced travel times between Sydney and the Central West with travel times from Bathurst around an hour or just over.

Sydney to Cowra in just over two hours. Such a project would rival landmarks around the world and significantly value add to tourism. It could be built within 12 months if numerous contractors were used to build small dedicated sections of the project, as opposed to paying one contractor to take a decade.

Such major projects need to be put on steroids to maximize economic development and prosperity. The project would quickly pay for itself with tolls and take the pressure of urban sprawl and Sydney basin and be a truly decentralist project.

Don't hold your breath waiting for either party to build such a project, especially Gladys, Nick and Co with the back door donations and palm greasing focused on suring up city electorates than what's good for the whole of the state.

They should stop wasting money performing works on the existing routes, and build a new dedicated expressway. The current route via Katoomba will never be adequate, and with urban development, to the contrary, fall behind akin to trying to make a silk purse out of a sour's ear.

Brian Fisher

My god, I can’t believe the state of one of Cowra’s most popular tourist attractions. 

The gravel pathway around the Prisoner of War Camp, used by families, kids with bikes, prams and pets etc is spread in both catheads and paddy melon vines, almost covering the path in some areas. 

A regular user of the path during cooler months where it was ok, I was appalled on the weekend by the state it was in. Do we have to wait for a major event in the town to have it cleaned up? Surely it can be sprayed or graded? It is a major deterrent for tourists I’m sure. 

Tom Downing

The Salvation Army has been overwhelmed with the incredible outpouring of support and generosity from the Australian public with our Christmas Appeal raising $15 million to help those in need.

We have been heartened to see our community unite and give hope where it’s needed most. For many people in Australia and around the world, 2017 was a year that was filled with adversity and challenges.

Sadly, The Salvation Army continues to see an increase in people facing hardship, distress and crisis. With all of life’s injustices, it can sometimes be hard to hold onto hope.

So as we enter the New Year let us prioritise empathy, respect and compassion for one another, never underestimating the power these qualities can bring to those in need.

Let us renew our commitment to persevere and help those who are suffering, empowering them with love and hope. And let us not underestimate the influence we all have to make a difference in the lives of others.

Leigh Cleave – Communications & Fundraising Director, The Salvation Army