2016 - A year of many highlights

It’s been a big year for Orange City Council.

The dam wall was raised by one metre, adding 10 per cent to the capacity of the dam, just in time for record winter rainfalls.

Orange mayor John Davis said it was incredible seeing water gushing over the top of the raised wall, given only a few years earlier the city’s water supply sat at only 23 per cent.

“It was dire straits for a while there and it prompted the council to look at ways of broadening the city’s water supply with the Macquarie Pipeline, the stormwater harvesting system and then boosting the dam’s capacity to nearly 19,000 mega-litres,” Cr Davis said.

“It was wonderful to see that project completed and officially opened in September.”

Another highly-anticipated project completed this year was the $8 million Orange Regional Museum building completion in January.

The Groundstone Café and the Visitors Information Centre moved into the museum building during the following months, ahead of the museum’s first exhibition opening in November, which was attended by about 600 people.

“Since then the museum has attracted more than 4,000 people,” Cr Davis said.

Winter was a difficult time of the year when record rainfall caused damage to Orange’s

roads.

Record rainfall led to record road building budget of $15.2 million and several projects

within that budget have already been completed.

“We kicked off the road building season a little earlier this year with an upgrade of

Paling Street and Austin Street in October,” Cr Davis said.

“Since then the road crews have completed more than 20 projects including upgrades

on Edward Street, March Street, Lone Pine Avenue, Hill Street and Forest Road and we

were able to finish off the Byng Street project, which means it now has hot mix from the

Peisley Street roundabout to Sampson Street.

“And construction of the new link road between Telopea Way and William Maker Drive

has begun, which will take the pressure off the intersection of Farrell road and Telopea

way when it completed early 2017.”

Also in 2016, the Orange Regional Airport runway expansion and new terminal were

officially opened and the first large jets took off from the Spring Hill site.

The project included a 438 metre expansion to the runway as well as expanded taxiways, new access roads and new runway lighting.

It was also a big year for sport in Orange with the council successfully securing an NRL trial match between the Newcastle Knights and The Canberra Raiders in February and a Big Bash League pre season game between the Sydney Thunder and Hong Kong in December.

This holiday season, Cr Davis urged Orange residents to become ‘tourists in their own town’ and take in the sights in and around the city.

“We’re so lucky to live in such a beautiful part of the world,” he said.

“Take Lake Canobolas, for example, the scenery out there is just beautiful and there’s

something for everyone.

“A lake, two beaches, wide open spaces, a playground, a flying fox and a cafe.

“There’s the Orange Botanic Gardens, the Adventure Playground, Gosling Creek, all

beautiful places to go during the warmer weather and the school holidays.

“And if you go to the Visit Orange website and have a look at the ‘What’s On’ guide there is rarely a weekend that goes by where there isn’t something on.

“Take advantage of the magnificent place we live in.”