The Portland Business Association held its annual general meeting on Monday night, August 6, and its committee was excited to start planning the event. 

President Andrew Neville thanked the business community which had supported the association through its first year. 

“There is a real excitement in the business community, with things happening in and around Portland,” he said.

“It’s wonderful to see Portland moving forward.”

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While a few new businesses have signed on as members of the association, the executive remains the same, with Heather Palmer as treasurer, Leanne Fitzgerald as vice president, and Lorna Nicholson as secretary. 

This year’s Christmas Festival is expected to include the lighting of the tree, carols by candlelight and a street festival on the Thursday before Christmas. 

“It’s good to have more time to plan – last year I think we had about five weeks,” Mr Neville said. 

“We want to make sure there is something offered for everyone.”

Improved signage is also on the Portland Business Association’s collective mind. It plans to investige whether tourism signage could be introduced along the Great Western Highway, encouraging people to turn off and visit the heritage town. 

It would also like to see the introduction of a large tourist sign, including business information and a town map, either at the rest stop near the golf club on entry into town or somewhere within Portland’s centre. 

A new printing of Portland’s business brochure will be undertaken in the next few weeks and will be available at local businesses and the Lithgow visitor information centre.