CABONNE’S “FOOD BASKET” BRAND SHINES
Cabonne Council will retain its widely known “Food Basket” logo and brand after a study revealed it had a 95% recognition factor among local residents. Council engaged consultants to conduct the brand recognition exercise to help us determine whether we needed a rebranding strategy. As part of the exercise, participants in the research were asked to identify seven council logos, which had the names of the particular council removed. Cabonne’s logo achieved the highest recognition factor.
Almost 79% of respondents said the Cabonne brand represented the local area, more than 65% described it as regional and 23% described it as warm. The overview was that the current logo and brand represented and highlighted the country flavour, industry and diversity of Cabonne and what it produces. There’s an attachment to the colours showcasing the agricultural and country element of the Shire, and people were familiar and attached to the idea of Cabonne being a “food basket”.
The results confirmed Council’s belief that the expense of developing a new brand was not warranted, particularly when the new brand may not have the same recognition factor and emotional attachment as the existing one. Although designing a new brand would cost about $20,000, the ultimate cost of new signage, stationery and other costs could be more than $1 million over time. That’s money we would prefer to spend on infrastructure and services for Cabonne residents and ratepayers.
MORE THAN $1.2M OF ADDITIONAL ROADWORKS
Additional road works will be undertaken throughout the Shire as the result of savings achieved on works completed during the past year. An extra $426,000 is now available for local heavy patching, $420,000 for gravel resheeting and $371,000 for local reseals.
Gravel resheeting will be carried out on Lockwood Road, Canowindra; Reedy Creek Road, Eugowra; Yellowbox Road, Cudal; Fish Fossil Drive, Canowindra and Nanami Lane, Cargo-Canowindra. Local heavy patching will be undertaken on Davys Plain Road, Cudal. Reseals will be carried out in Belmore Street, Canowindra and Short Street, Canowindra. While the shire is desperate for droughtbreaking rain, many of the savings are due to favourable weather conditions.
SCHOOL SCOOP
School Leaders from Cabonne’s three high schools spoke to Council last week on issues and infrastructure upgrades their fellow students consider important. Council was very impressed with the addresses from Bridget Smith and Sydney Tremain, from Yeoval Central School; Chanse Mclean and Ella Gruessing, from Canowindra High School; and Amy Wilson and Matt Beuzeville, from Molong Central School. Expanded library services at Molong, closed circuit television in the Canowindra CBD and upgraded sporting facilities at Yeoval were among the matters the students have asked Council to explore. These senior students are excellent ambassadors for their communities and Council will try as hard as possible to accommodate their requests. School
Enrolments in Cabonne continue to grow, with the latest figures showing a 3.5% increase in the past two years. All 19 schools in the Shire provided a high standard of teaching, which is reflected in the enrolments. A total 1,823 students attended Cabonne primary and secondary schools at the end of 2017 – up from 1,762 in 2015. Nashdale Public School, Canowindra High School and Cudal, Mullion Creek and Clergate Public Schools had the biggest influx of new students.
The Calibre of young people in Cabonne never ceases to amaze me and never is it more evident than when Council presents its Youth of the Month awards. In the past two months, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting three young people, Julia Stanley and William Wright, from Canowindra High School, and Jessica Burgess, from Molong, whose list of academic, community and sporting achievements is outstanding. This is one of Cabonne’s most valuable initiatives and with young leaders like Julia, William and Jessica, I’m certain our future is in good hands. If you know of a young person who fits the bill please don’t hesitate to nominate them for the Youth of Month Award by calling Council on 6392 3200.
THE 2018 CABONNE DAROO BUSINESS AWARDS
The Daroo Awards were launched last week and nominations are now being sought from customers and clients. A people’s choice format will decide the winners in most categories, so please nominate Cabonne businesses you feel are worthy of recognition. Nominations close on 30 June 2018 and forms are available at various points in Cabonne villages. Once all nominations are received, finalists will be determined in each category and an online voting process will open. The winners will be announced at a gala dinner at Eugowra on Friday 2 November 2018.
REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY
This strategy sets out a long-term vision for Cabonne, Orange and Blayney local government areas and has been adopted by Cabonne Council. Developed with the assistance of the NSW Government, the strategy builds on the region’s assets and resources to guide investment over the next four years. Cabonne Council are looking forward to implementing these strategies to capitalise on agricultural and mineral resources, industries, location, climate and lifestyle advantages. Health, aged care and education have been identified as three areas of future growth.