Budget 2020

Orange residents will be asked what they think about the re-introduction of a city-wide bulky waste collection.

The latest Orange City Council meeting decided to put the draft annual budget on display for community comment. The draft budget includes the re-introduction of a city-wide bulky waste collection, paid for by an extra waste charge on rate-payers.

Under the proposal every rate-payer would be charged an extra annual waste fee of $11.35 for annual bulky-waste collection, whether they use the service or not.

Orange Mayor Reg Kidd believes there will be support for a bulky-waste collection.

“Since the bulky-waste collections were discontinued a number of years back, there’s been consistent calls from sections of the community for them to return. Deputy Mayor, Cr Sam Romano has been very passionate about this issue, and I’m pleased it’s back on the agenda again. ” Cr Reg Kidd said. “I think the collections can be organised so that more residents will make use of them.”

“We’re looking at organising the collection event so that more materials, such as steel and waste refrigerators containing gas, can be collected separately for recycling.”

Orange City Council Finance Committee chair Cr Jeff Whitton said an across-the-board charge, shares the cost across the whole community.

“While a ‘user-pays’ charge is only paid by people who use the service, it’s important to remember that some members of our community can’t afford this option,” Cr Jeff Whitton said. “An across-the-board charge, paid by every ratepayer, can be much lower.”

“The important thing now is for residents to tell the council what they think about this idea, by visiting the YourSay Orange site and completing a simple online survey.”

An online discussion and survey will ask community members which of a number of options they prefer. The results from the online engagement would then be considered by the Council.

As well as across-the-board charge, the draft budget also includes continuing with the current user-pays system where residents can order a collection of two cubic metres of bulky waste from their residence. That resident then pays $220.25 for the service.

The report to the council’s budget meeting also raised the option of a new user-pays system where if at least 30 residents order a two cubic metre collection for the same time, the charge would be reduced to $82.50 for each of those residents. This option is currently not in the draft budget.

It’s expected the council would consider the results of the community engagement when deciding which options to begin in the coming year.

To make sure the survey is as accurate as possible, residents must register with the YourSay Orange site.

Registering with YourSay Orange is quick and easy. Simply follow the prompts to add a screen name and an email address.

Visit the Bulky-Waste survey here.

DID YOU KNOW ?

Orange’s 3-bin waste collections are generally only available within the urban area. If you’re outside that area in a rural district, (but still in the Orange local government area) you won’t get charged a waste charge for the bins. If that’s the case you won’t get charged the $11.35 and you won’t get the proposed bulky-waste pick up.

There are exceptions.

If you’re outside the urban area, and you want to get the three bins collected, you can ask to be added to the list for pick ups. If you’re in an area where that is viable, you get the three bins and you get charged. If you’re one of these residents, you will pay the extra $11.35 and you will get a bulky-waste pick up.

A strategy aimed at helping the Orange economy recover from the impact of the COVID-19 crisis, is a key feature of this year’s Orange City Council annual budget.

This week’s Council meeting (12 May) voted to put the proposed budget for the 2020/21 financial year on display for community comment.

The draft budget reveals plans to spend $78.9 million on capital projects in the coming year, part of a projected four year capital spend of $226 .6 million from 2020/21 to 2023/24.

The projects are to be funded by a mix of already-approved government grants, council reserves, property sales and loans.

The list of major capital projects planned to begin in the next 12 months, and to be completed in four years, includes:

• The Future City CBD upgrade - $10 million (part of a 2 year $30 million project)
• Upgrades to the Orange Regional Airport - $4.4 million
• The new sporting precinct - $10 million (part of a 2 year $25 million project with NSW Government funding)
• Stormwater harvesting expansion - $5million (including $2.5 million NSW Government funding)
• Orange Regional Gallery Expansion – $5 million (Council to add $1 million to $4 million NSW Government funding)

Orange Mayor Reg Kidd believes a larger commitment to infrastructure will help the Orange business sector recover.

“Even before the COVID-19 crisis struck, there were signs the whole country was beginning to slow economically,” Cr Reg Kidd said. “Everyone’s still waiting to see how long this crisis will last, but we can be sure that it will come to an end.”

“These are all key pieces of infrastructure, so spending this money now will boost the capacity of our local economy to generate jobs.”

“I’m pleased we are also giving a higher priority this year to building more new footpaths and upgrading older paths. This spending will be good for the local economy as well as improving neighbourhoods. We’re also giving a major boost to parks and playgrounds and allocating funds to improve our villages.”

The proposed budget includes plans to increase spending on footpaths from the current level of $450,000 this year to $900,000 next year. The budget includes plans to spend a further $1.35M on footpaths over the following two years.

The draft budget includes plans to spend $900,000 on new and refurbished Playgrounds over the next 4 years.

The budget proposes a consolidated operating deficit (before capital) of almost $1.3 million ($1,294,992) for 2020/21, but Mayor Reg Kidd believes the size of the deficit is necessary.

“We’re an organisation with an annual turnover of $150 million, so a deficit of $1.3 million must be seen against that background,” Cr Reg Kidd said.

“For the first time in a number of years we’re proposing a deficit budget, instead of a small surplus. That’s largely because of the drop in revenue from having to close a number of council facilities because of the community health crisis.

“We could have dealt with that shortfall by cutting back on spending, but now’s not the time for that if we want our local economy to be ticking over as we potentially come out the other side of this crisis.”

The budget makes provision for a $1.8 million loss in revenue next financial year from agencies affected by COVID-19 restrictions, including:

• Child care centres
• Civic Theatre and Aquatic Centre closure
• Reduction in airport landing fees and parking fines

Revenue from land sales also underpins the budget. Key sites that will be sold include residential sites, the old saleyards site, blocks at the Narrambla industrial estate and the remainder of the old hospital site.

Residential and business rates will rise by 2.6%, the increase capped by the NSW Government’s Independent Pricing & Regulatory Tribunal (IPART).

Average residential rates will increase by $62.22 per year or $1.20 per week. Average business rates will increase by $133.47 or $2.57 per week. Water and sewer rates will increase by 2.5% next year.

“The budget also includes plans for a number of minor projects based on long-standing plans to improve local neighbourhoods and find solutions to local problems,” Cr Kidd said.

The list of projects includes:

• Spring Hill Lucknow sewer strategy - $800K
• A new elevated boardwalk in the Ploughmans Creek wetlands
• A new bridge at the northern end of the Somerset wetlands
• An extra leash-free area
• New signs & gardens at the entrances to Orange
• $20,000 for improvements in each of the communities of Lucknow, Spring Hill and Clifton Grove (Total $60,000)

By visiting the YourSay Orange website, Orange residents can:

• leave a comment about any aspect of the budget
• complete a short survey
• find out more about the details of the budget

A string of water infrastructure projects are set to be rolled out in the coming year.

While some will add to Orange’s water sources, others are aimed at creating a more water efficient system for managing water.

The project list includes plans to:

• Build a new pipeline from Spring Creek Dam to the water treatment plant in Icely Road. ($4.5 million) Currently water from Spring Creek dam has to flow along an open creek bed to Suma Park dam before being pumped to the water treatment plant
• An upgrade to Gosling Creek dam $900K
• Buy land alongside the water treatment plant and improve site security ($1.15 million)
• Buy equipment to circulate water stored in reservoirs around Orange ($200K over two years)
• Trial to introduction of ‘smart’ water meters ($150K) Smart water meters are designed to give both water users and council better instant feed-back about water consumption. The trial would see the installation of a limited number of smart meters on a selection of water users.

Orange City Council also is also proposing to spend $5.27 million in the coming year on improvements to the city sewer system.

• The key projects include :
  $3 milliion to upgrade the inlet system at the Sewage Treatment Plant
• $800K on upgrade to the sewer system at Spring Hill and Lucknow
• $700K on re-lining sewer pipes

Orange’s sporting venues are set to be boosted by spending on a series of projects.

Plans to make a start on the new sporting precinct alongside the Jack Brabham sports fields are a key item in the draft budget for the coming year.

The budget includes $25 million in state government funding over the next two years for the new precinct.

It’s expected the first stage of the project would see work begin next year on an athletics track alongside the planned rectangular sportfield.

A site alongside Forest Road is being proposed for the project.

At Wade Park, the indoor cricket centre is due to be completed in the coming months and the grandstand set to be upgraded with new seating, $100,000 is in the budget for next to upgrade the venues irrigation and drainage system.

The first stages of work have begun on plans to build a new wetland, extending Orange’s pioneering stormwater harvesting scheme.

$800,000 was approved in this year’s budget, and a further $5 million has been allocated in next year’s budget for the project. Funding comes from a $2.5 million government grant and $2.5 from Orange City Council.

Orange Mayor Cr Reg Kidd said the proposed new wetland on Blackmans Swamp Creek would build on the existing network of along Ploughmans Creek.

“Orange's stormwater harvesting system has been a pioneering source of water for Orange, that delivers during a drought,” Cr Reg Kidd said. “But it's set to be even better when we build an extra constructed wetland on Blackmans Swamp Creek.”

“We're looking at a site right alongside the bypass, next to residential areas.

“There are already a number of constructed wetlands in Orange at Ploughmans, Somerset and Brooklands. They've been built as a source of water, but it's been brilliant to watch them grow and develop as so much more than that. They're now places for quiet recreation. They're a habitat for native species.

“It's been interesting to watch nearby residents replace their colourbond back fences with see through structures so they can enjoy the water views.”

Orange-based environmental consulting firm, Premise has been employed to design the wetland site, and has sought input from the local community and interested groups to find out what people would like see at the site.

Sally Kirby, senior ecologist with Orange environmental consultants Premise, said the wetlands will have many benefits for the community.

“The purpose of the wetland is for water storage and water quality, however Council would like to see the site developed with environmental and social benefits for the whole community, ”Sally Kirby said.

“As Senior Ecologist at Premise, I'm co-ordinating the community engagement process, and I've been speaking with representatives from many interest groups including Orange Local Aboriginal Land Council, Orange Field Naturalists, Summer Hill Creekcare, ECCO, Central Tablelands Landcare, Local Land Services, Futuring Orange, Bowen Community Technology Centre, Fusion and Ploughmans Creek Wetland Care Group to name a few.

Plans to hold a face-to-face community meeting took a new direction with the onset of the COVID-19 crisis.

“I was hoping to get as many interested people together as possible to discuss ideas for the site, and come up with a plan to take to Council. COVID restrictions have meant I have had to take the workshop online.

Representatives of community groups met in a Zoom video-conference in late April.

The wokshop discussed ecological, cultural, educational and recreational opportunities for the site.

“There are some amazing examples of wetlands working around the world, including our own local Ploughmans Wetlands, creating habitat for wildlife, places for people to relax, walk or ride bikes, and an opportunity to provide an interactive, educational experience,” Sally Kirby said.

“We would really love to work with the community to come up with a concept for the whole site that the people living nearby will want to use and will look after.”

People who want to contribute to the design project should send an email to sally.kirby@premise.com.au

Work is due to start early in the next financial year on a new administration office at the Orange City Council Works depot in McLachlan Street.

The new building replaces the office damaged by fire in June 2019.

The proposed budget includes an allocation of $800K for the new office. That amount is expected to be boosted by a contribution from insurers.

The design of the new building is still to be finalised.

Moves to look at the future of the Civic Theatre are included in the Council's planning for the coming years.

The theatre is now more than forty years old and while it's still a fantastic regional venue, it needs some work to ensure it's able to meet the contemporary performance needs of leading touring companies who want to perform here.

Major ballet companies, for example, need much wider backstage wings than the Civic Theatre can offer. The height of the roof over the stage is no longer able to meet the demands for contemporary-sized backdrops that touring companies use.

In the long-term budgeting process, an amount of $6 million has been allocated in four years' time, to flag the scale of the work that could happen. It's important to note that this project is proposed to be 100% dependent on the council receiving grants for the work.

The first steps towards discovering what might actually be built are proposed to happen next year in the 2020/21 financial year. In the draft budget, it's proposed to allocate an amount of $25,000 for some expert research and preliminary design options that could look at the available space and match that with contemporary performance needs.

Some contemporary theatres also have a second smaller performance and rehearsal space. That's another option that could be researched.

Work is set to begin in the coming year on a $20 million new home for the Orange Conservatorium of Music.

Plans have been floated for a number of years, and the project has already attracted government grants worth $10 million.

Next year’s Council budget sees a spending allocation of $7.6 million followed by a further $12.4 million in the following year.

A government grant for $10 million has already been secured and a grant for a further $5 million is being sought. Orange City Council plans to contribute $2.6 million, plus a further $2.4 from the proceeds of land sales.

Plans for the building have reached an advanced stage for a site alongside the Civic Square precinct on March St.

Click here to view a video-animation of the proposed conservatorium.