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Orange City Council News

Orange City Council News

Consultation has concluded
  • Safety message goes "viral".

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    The Orange and Cabonne Road Safety Officer, Andrea Hamilton-Vaughan is on a mission to get every driver in the central west using their car's headlights during the day.

    And based on how many views a video promoting the message received, she is getting close to achieving her goal.



    The video, promoted through social media, on the Orange and Cabonne Road Safety Facebook page received 83,000 views, was shared 775 times and 64 per cent of people watched the whole 30 second clip.

    City Of Orange Traffic Committee chair, Cr Russell Turner said it was "fantastic" to see this home-grown video with a simple message get so much coverage online.

    "The clip was prompted by the recent damp and foggy conditions, and a key message from the Orange and Cabonne Road safety program about encouraging drivers to leave their headlights on 24-7," he said.

    " When I see cars driving at dusk without their lights on, I often think they must be able to see the road in front of them.

    "But, depending on the colour of their car, other drivers might not be able to see them. It’s just not safe."

    Shot from behind the wheel of a car, the video simply asks which of the oncoming cars are easiest to see.

    The pictures speak for themselves as the cars with their headlights switched on stand-out.

    "It’s common sense but there’s also lots of research which points to just how much more visible a car can be with its lights on," Cr Turner said.

    "Some of the latest cars have a daylight setting for their headlights which makes it even easier to drive with your lights on."

    Orange City Council is continuing to develop its efforts in communications and this is a sign of that strategy working successfully," Cr Turner says.

    " As well as individuals, many of the shares have been by police, road safety and other community groups right across NSW."






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  • Young engineer awarded world study tour

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    Orange City Council trainee engineer, Logan Hignett has earned a rare opportunity to tour some of the world’s top university campuses and rub shoulders with the best international academics.

    At first, Logan Hignett hesitated in applying for the Aurora Indigenous Scholars International Study Tour but said he was glad he did, because he is about to spend a month overseas networking with leading academics.

    As part of his application for the tour, Mr Hignett was interviewed by Indigenous students, past and present, with PhDs and Masters degrees in a range of disciplines.

    He said he was awe-inspired by their talents and it became apparent the endless possibilities that lay before him.

    “Often people don’t associate Indigenous people with academic brilliance so I think these types of scholarships are really helpful in reducing that type of misconception,” he said.

    “These Indigenous students and past students had PhDs and were exceptionally talented in their fields.
    “The interview process was a little daunting given their experience and talent.”

    Mr Hignett is due to complete his civil engineering degree next year and is considering furthering his education.

    He will have the privilege of walking the corridors and meeting with professors and students of Stanford University, Harvard University, the University of California, Columbia University, New York University and Cambridge and Oxford universities while he contemplates his career.

    The group tour, which involves about 10 trainees, is designed to provide opportunities for students to gain insight into the realities of undertaking postgraduate study and to set students up with contacts and advice on how to achieve further scholarships.

    Orange City Council’s Director of Technical Services Chris Devitt said since Logan started with the Council in 2010, he has worked on a variety of projects. He worked on the Suma Park Dam wall upgrade.

    “Logan has been very committed to his studies, which is reflected in his continued excellent
    results, and should be extremely proud of his achievements overall,” Mr Devitt said.

    “Especially being selected to travel the world on this study tour and educate the rest of the
    world on what a career at Orange City Council can lead to.”

    ENGINEERING: Orange City Council's Director of Technical Services Chris Devitt with Engineering Student Logan Hignett and General Manager Garry Styles.

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  • Orange-PNG business opportunities explored

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    The prospects for Orange businesses in Papua New Guinea were explored during a visit to Orange by the PNG Consul General.

    Consul-General Mr Sumasy Singin spent four days in Orange recently in a visit arranged by Deputy Mayor and Sister Cities committee chair, Cr Chris Gryllis.

    The Consul-General said the latest visit builds on “Orange’s special relationship with Papua New Guinea through the Mount Hagen Sister City relationship.”

    “This relationship has being going for thirty years or so and Hagen is at the heart of our highland region.”

    Because Mt Hagen has recently opened an international airport, “most of the mining companies operating in the area fly in and fly out though Mt Hagen.” Mr Singin said.

    A major mining industry support business based in Orange, Pybar, will be attended its first mining expo in Port Moresby this week.

    “We’re starting to look at overseas opportunities,” Pybar Chief Operating Officer Brendan Rouse said. “PNG, given its proximity to Australia and the eastern states, is a logical choice.”

    “Underground gold mining at the moment is the main opportunity there. That’s our speciality.”

    “It’s a long term project,” Brendan Rouse said. “We’re not there to try and find something next month. It could be twelve months away, but if it takes 12 months then that’s fine. We want to try and understand the country and see what the opportunities are and put a plan in place.”

    The PNG Consul-General said there are “a lot of opportunities” for businesses in Orange to explore business in PNG and that current economic conditions could make now a good time to explore the PNG market.

    “They should go to PNG now,” Mr Singin said. “The prices or oil and gas have gone down and a lot of bigger companies are sizing up their operating costs. It is better to move in now to see the opportunities.”

    Based in Sydney, Mr Singin made the trip to Orange with his wife and two grandchildren.

    “I went to Mount Canobolas. It is like going up to the Everest of this part of the world and see all the cities below you. The road was closed but it was fun walking up to the summit. My grandchildren had never seen the snow before.”

    OPPORTUNITIES : The prospects for Australian businesses working in PNG were up for discussion when the PNG Consul-General visited Orange this week. Pictured (l. to r.) are Orange Deputy Mayor Cr Chris Gryllis, Pybar Chief Operating Officer Brendan Rouse, Consul-General Sumasy Singin, Pybar CEO Paul Rouse and Cr Russell Turner.


  • Demolition DA to outline plans for former hospital site

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    27 July 2016

    Plans to demolish the buildings on the site of the former Orange Base Hospital will go on-show for community comment this week.

    Orange City Council, which bought the site from the NSW Government in May this year, plans to demolish all buildings on the site except the main tower/ward building and the former ambulance station to make way for a multi-level housing development. A separate DA for the residential project will be lodged in due course.

    Orange mayor John Davis said he is pleased the project is making progress.

    “The task of demolishing so many buildings across a whole city block is a major project, so it’s important that the Orange community can find out more about what’s planned and has an opportunity to have a say,” Cr John Davis said.

    “This new housing project has the potential to set new standards for contemporary-style, multi-level apartments in Orange.”

    Once the Development Application (DA) for the demolition goes on public display on Saturday, the community will have 30 days to make comments, with the deadline on 30 August.

    The demolition Development Application includes an assessment of environment effects of the demolition. It outlines :
    • How potentially hazardous building materials such as asbestos, would be dealt with
    • As assessment of heritage values of a number of different hospital buildings
    • The potential impact of the demolition process on the surrounding residential area including noise
    • A timeline when each building would be demolished
    • Removal of a disused underground 40,000 litre diesel tank
    The study finds that around 16,000 tonnes of waste bricks and concrete could be recycled where possible or transported off-site.

    The DA suggests it would take around six months (depending on the staging of the project) to compete the demolition. During the project it’s expected there would be in the order of 16 heavy vehicle movements a day.

    Orange City Council is seeking expressions of interest from investment companies and
    developers about the proposed housing development on the site.



    “Depending on the level of interest from the market, the main tower block could still be
    demolished,” Cr John Davis said. “So the current DA will also gain approval to cover the possibility of the demolition of that building as well.”

    It’s expected Orange City Council would put the demolition project out to tender in
    September 2016.

    There is more information about the demolition, together with information about making a
    submission on the DA and the official documents
    can be downloaded from the council website.

    Orange City Council has also written to residents in the neighbourhood around the hospital
    site to inform them about the demolition DA process.

    THE VIEW: This is the view potential residents of the old hospital site tower would have.
  • Workshops to explore next steps in tourism

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    Businesses from across the Orange region are being urged to have their say when two major tourism workshops are held in Orange next month.

    Orange City Council is holding the workshops to explore and identify the preferred future of tourism for the Orange Region.

    The two independently-facilitated workshops will be held on August 4 and 6 to bring together representatives from many groups and organisations that influence and impact tourism in the Orange region.

    Orange City Council’s Employment and Economic Development Committee chair Cr Jeff Whitton is encouraging a broad range of local businesses to attend the workshops.

    “The food and wine producers of Orange have built a solid a reputation which attracts thousands of visitors, and now it’s time to build on those foundations.”

    “We need to make sure the wine and food area continues to prosper, and then ask where else we can grow the tourism sector.”

    “It’s important that the views of all local business are heard when we look at the future direction of tourism strategies.”

    Around 470 local business were invited to attend in letters mailed last week.

    “The communities, businesses and tourism operators of Orange, Blayney and Cabonne all play a significant role when visitors come to the region and it’s important that there’s input from all areas,” Cr Jeff Whitton said.

    There more information and people can register online at http://www.visitorange.com.au/tourism2016 To finalise numbers, people are being asked to RSVP for this fully catered event by Wednesday 27 July.

    The workshops are already proving popular with Thursday's event nearly at capacity but there's room in Saturday's workshop.

    The program runs from 9.30am to 3pm in the ballroom at the Hotel Canobolas.


    BUSY: Businesses across the region are being urged to attend tourism workshops.

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  • Million dollar tender awarded for East Orange Channel

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    The latest Orange City Council meeting has awarded the tender for the latest stage of the East Orange stormwater channel.

    The contract worth just under one million dollars has been awarded to Hibbo Hire Pty Ltd.

    Orange Mayor John Davis said the problems of potential flooding for residents of the East Orange area were well-known and Orange City Council was committed to tackling this problem by enlarging the stormwater channel.

    "It’s a major construction task and so the work has to be spread out over a number of years," he said.

    "With the rain of recent weeks residents have noticed how full these stormwater channels are and how important they are for clearing large volumes of water away."

    He said residents between Summer Street East and Byng Street could already see the benefits of the recently completed stage and how much more water the bigger channel can shift.

    "The new stage will see an enlargement of the current channel between Byng and McLachlan Streets," Cr Davis said.

    "Work is expected to start soon and weather permitting the project is expected to be completed by the end of the year."

    WIDENED: The East Orange Channel at Byng Street and Summer Street after it was widened.

    NARROW: The East Orange Channel at Byng Street and McLachlan Street.


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  • UPDATED: Council tackles parking problems

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    UPDATE - August 3:

    Orange City Council rangers are back to chalking tyres while a review of the number plate recognition based system continues.

    The Council, last night, resolved to suspend the use of the Mobile Parking Camera until the review is completed.

    Council is concerned that the Licence Plate Recognition Technology is creating uncertainty in the community.

    There were 407 infringements issued in the May to July period and five appeals were lodged.

    Council staff have been instructed from the introduction of this technology to be conservative in their approach and give the benefit of the doubt where possible.

    The system was returned to the supplier last week and is undergoing some work to establish better clarity of the photographs used to determine whether a vehicle had left a parking space within the allowed time.

    Staff are also preparing a report to Council and a Fact sheet to inform the community on the most common parking rules.

    PREVIOUSLY - July 25:

    The Number-Plate Recognition Parking System has changed driver behaviour but there are teething problems that are being addressed, according to Orange City Council Manager of Corporate and Community Relations, Nick Redmond.

    Mr Redmond said since the new Number Plate Recognition (NPR) system was introduced in February this year, there’s been a number of preliminary indications that it’s been a success in terms of changing parking behaviour in Orange.

    "Drivers are noting the high-profile NPR car doing its rounds and are responding by sharing the available parking spaces more fairly," Mr Redmond said.

    "Analysis of parking availability in the main Orange shopping area indicates that short term parking spaces are becoming available more often in more convenient locations within the CBD."

    There were a handful of cases where drivers have received an infringement notice after claiming they had returned to park again in same spot after leaving that location Mr Redmond said.

    "Orange City Council recognises there are a small number of teething problems with the new system and staff are continuing to fine-tune procedures to minimise the chances of an infringement notice being incorrectly issued," he said.

    "Once a fine has been issued, it’s up to the State Debt Recovery Office to manage that process, so if a driver wants to challenge the fine they should approach the SDRO directly."

    Mr Redmond said the SDRO can contact Orange City Council to ask for the photographic evidence if they have been approached by a driver.

    "Any system will always depend on an assessment of the available evidence about whether or not a car has left, and re-parked in a similar location," he said.

    "The most sensible way forward would be to prevent any chance of an infringement, by parking in a very different location."

    Common misunderstandings around timed parking zones, debunked

    There have been some common misunderstandings about how timed parking zones work, Mr Redmond said.

    "Drivers should make sure they leave a timed parking space before the time allowed.

    "As long as they leave that section of the road, drivers can return later on the same day to park again in the same general area where they parked previously," Mr Redmond said.

    "If drivers choose to park in exactly the same parking space again, they run the risk of that the NPR car will use its technology and identify their car for a parking fine."


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  • Wooden toys bring joy to Council childcare centres

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    The Orange Woodworkers Association swapped its usual gesture of gifting Orange City Council a hand-crafted gavel and instead gave it kids toys.

    To express gratitude for receiving community grants from the Council, the group traditionally made a gavel for the Mayor but this year its members made wooden toys for the Council’s childcare centres.

    These toys were particularly impressive given they were crafted by a man with only one hand, according to club President Ramon jones.

    “The crickets were made by member Ray Parrish who is very talented despite missing one hand,” Mr Jones said.

    “Our club is open to everyone, anyone who has an interest in woodwork.

    “Young, old, women or men.”

    Mr Jones aid the eldest member of the group was 92 and the youngest 19.

    Orange City Council has supported the group for several years with community funding grants and the latest grant given to the club was $2,800.

    It allowed the group to purchase a table saw and a dust extractor.

    Group member Ryan Collins said the new equipment allowed the group to be more versatile with what members could make.

    “We make anything, all types of furniture,” Mr Collins said.

    “The most complicated was a (wooden) soccer ball.”

    The organisation is in its 16th year and anyone interested in joining should call Mr Jones on 63673048.

    “We welcome anyone who has come from a trade or who has no idea about woodwork and would like some help,” he said.

    For more information on applying for donations or grants contact the Council on 63938000 or go to its website http://www.orange.nsw.gov.au/grants


    GIFTS: Spring Street Children’s Centre kids Arabella Campbell, Jacob Felton, Daniel Johnson and Riley Whitford play with the wooden toys gifted to them by Orange Woodworkers Association members Ryan Collins and Ramon Jones.


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  • Make it a mission to see Dalton exhibition

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    Forget about The Borgias or The Kardashians, when it comes to influential families Orange’s The Daltons had plenty of political and social influence.

    Their contribution to Orange has been captured in an exhibition at the Blowes Conservatory in Cook Park and is open this Winter.

    The exhibition highlights the many achievements of one of Orange’s founding families.

    One of the most influential Catholic families in NSW, the Daltons were key to developing commerce in Orange.

    It was a remarkable journey for James Dalton who came to Australia in 1849 as an Irish immigrant aged 15. His father arrived the following year as a convict.

    In the wake of the gold rush, aged 19, James opened a store in Orange in 1853.

    The Daltons went on to build local landmarks including Duntryleague, Kangaroobie, Galbally in Byng Sreet, Mena in Kite Street and the Dalton Bros shop building in Summer Street, among others.

    The Dalton Fountain located in Cook Park and recently restored was donated by James Dalton who was the Mayor of Orange in 1869.

    This exhibition has been placed in the Blowes Conservatory, making use of this building during the winter period, when it has been previously closed to the public.

    The main display of Tuberous Begonias will be returned to the Conservatory later in the year.

    The Council would like to thank the Orange and District Historical Society for providing the information and images used in this display.

    ON SHOW: The Dalton exhibition at Cook park.

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  • Young people head to Orange parks in droves

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    They could be in your house and you don’t know they are there.

    They could be in your bedroom watching you sleep.

    They could even be in your bed.

    The PokemonGo craze has well and truly hit Orange’s young people with reports of 50 to 100 of them appearing in Robertson Park last Saturday night, July 9.

    With their eyes downcast onto their phones, stumbling around looking for the little monsters that can only be seen through the lens of a smart phone camera.


    PokemonGo is a smart phone app that superimposes little monsters into real-world situations and the aim is to “catch em’ all”.

    Pokemon trainers, as players are known, then train their little beasties and battle them against other trainers.
    Trainers have to go to virtual ‘gyms’ to train and battle their critters and as it turns out, the Orange Regional Museum courtyard is one of those gyms.

    Roberston Park, Lake Canobolas and Cook Park are known as Pokestops where trainers can find medicines and food for their Pokemon and often find free-ranging Pokemon to catch.

    By most accounts it seems to be a craze worth embracing, with young people getting outside, using Orange’s parks and gardens and making friends while they're playing a video game.

    There will always be the odd grumble of “back in my day young people had to walk 879,000 miles to and from work, we didn’t have time for socialising” or “surely young people have better things to do than to go outside, get some fresh air and meet people”.

    So if you see an army of young people walking in your direction with their eyes glued to their phone screen, don’t be alarmed, you’re probably just surrounded by invisible monsters.

    CULTURED: Rattata snuck into the Orange Civic Theatre to see the renown The Wharf Revue on Tuesday night.

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