Representatives from the Lightning Ridge Tourist Association and the Walgett Tourist Association were last week joined by members of the community including many local business owners.

Mr Percy described the meeting as an opportunity for residents to have their say on what issues were of high priority to the shire.

"Our idea is to come up with a business plan to project us into the future," he said.

He said the emphasis of the meeting was public consultation, and not to tell people what to do.

Mr Percy organised for Simon Kinsmore to act as facilitator .

He had worked with the Queanbeyan shire and in the ACT as well as having studied at both Charles Sturt University and the University of Canberra.

Mr Kinsmore asked attendees what their ideas were to help improve tourism for the shire.

Many residents raised the need for public toilets to be built in the centre of town.

Community members also stressed the need for children's parks and for shade in the existing playground at Lyons Park.

There was also support for a skate park, although residents were not certain where the park should be situated.

While it is possible the skate park could be an addition to the newly formed Lightning Ridge Water Sports and Recreation club's proposed all purpose lake, there were calls to have it closer to the centre of town.

The Lightning Ridge Tourist Association developed some key initiatives for the discussion.

Included was the need to work in conjunction with Tourism NSW to have signage from Dubbo and Sydney, the lengthening of the airstrip, fencing and viewing platform for the open-cut mine, development of bore bath facilities, toilet facilities in the centre of town, festival promotions, youth representation, arts and culture, develop promotion for fishing and bird-watching zones and town or building development.