IT's been a bruising year for the NSW Nationals but party leader Troy Grant remains bullish about his team's ability to "walk the walk" for bush communities.
The member for Dubbo, who's just clocked up 12 months as Deputy Premier, said regional NSW was on the cusp of a new era with the $6 billion windfall from the poles and wires sale set to trickle west of the divide.
But despite positive mid-term prospects, The Nationals are yet to effectively sell their strategy to win back voters on the North Coast, following the long running coal seam gas conflict.
Native vegetation reform also remains a thorny issue.
Despite a Coalition victory at the March state election, Nationals' representatives suffered a swing against them in a majority of seats.
The loss of Ballina - and nearly Lismore - to The Greens also exposed the party's coal seam gas conundrum.
While the Coalition is building a comprehensive CSG policy in parliament (see story below) the Nationals' stance remains unclear.
Mr Grant said defeat in Ballina was largely a result of the long-standing Don Page's retirement.
"When you've got a long-standing member, people in the electorate tend to identify more with the person than the political party," Mr Grant said.
So, with Lismore MP Thomas George expected to retire at the next election after 16 years of service, Mr Grant acknowledged the party's approach needed to change.
"There's no doubt that the attitudes of the coastal communities have changed, and it's up to me as the leader to show why people should vote for us," Mr Grant said.
Mr Grant was less concerned about NSW Labor's push west of the divide.
"They spent millions and didn't win a single seat off us. People in the regional areas know a bullshitter when they see one," Mr Grant said
Mr Grant also blamed Labor for controversial coal mines on the Liverpool Plains.
"We are working to not jeopardise the sanctity of the black soil plains," he said.
"We inherited this legacy from Labor. And the independent members of that area - both federal and state - stood by and did nothing.
"(Tony) Windsor and (Peter) Draper should hang their heads in shame. It's like committing a crime then criticising someone else as a suspect for it. It's just atrocious."
Mr Grant said The Nationals will keep "walking the walk" as the party works through its checklist of election promises.
Agriculture minister Niall Blair's Biosecurity reform, which passed last month, was one of seven actions completed from the memorandum of understanding, formed with NSW Farmers in the lead up to the March election.
There are 13 actions in total and Mr Grant said work was underway on the remaining six issues.
"In just six months, that is an achievement," Mr Grant said. "It's not just talk. We've always been a government that says "judge us on what we do. Not on what we say."
Mr Grant said the $6 billion windfall for regions from the sales of NSW's electricity assets, the "poles and wires", was one of his biggest wins as leader.
Funds are expected to be available by October 2016.
"It will come through in stages, as per the individual sale contracts with different electricity providers. Transgrid is up for tender first, and from there it'll be a rolling feast.
"That will really transform the regions in the long-term. That has grown our capacity to deliver on all our commitments."
Mr Grant's next project is a broad plan for revitalising regional NSW's population and jobs.
"The geographical discrimination of regional NSW is a real burr under my saddle," he said
"We've got to move away from a sausage sizzle approach to this."
