Extended hours, hot food, drive through facilities and a facelift - there’s a lot planned for the development before Council.

Hay is to get its first drive-through bottle shop since the former Caledonian Hotel burnt down around 20 years ago.

Council approved a Development Application for the bottle shop despite eight objections from surrounding landholders and a recommendation from Council staff to refuse the application, or approve it with stringent conditions.

Improvements are on the way for the main street of Hay.

Work is set to start next week on improvements to the main street to provide a stronger road and a smoother and safer journey for up to 5000 vehicles that drive through the town each day.

Hay Shire Council General Manager, David Webb welcomed the announcement made on Monday afternoon.

“Council staff have been working with TfNSW on the Lachlan Street surface upgrade works for the past two years and we look forward to the works finally being undertaken.,” Mr Webb said.

Those driving down Lachlan Street would no doubt have noticed the bright and attractive new signage adorning the shopfront of Mackers Meats.

Gary McRae is passionate about the need for signage in the shopping districts of towns.

In addition to enlisting Anthony Slattery Painting to create some eye-catching business signs for the butchery, he is also getting new awnings.

She was one of the driving forces behind Hay’s dipping concept, supporting local businesses throughout lockdown by running a social media raffle page, and now Chloe Deacon has opened her own retail outlet in Lachlan Street.

Work is under way on Witcombe Place Phase 2 on the western side of Lachlan Street.