Council pleased with signs of progress on Kurim shops

19 April 2018

The appearance of a construction fence around the former Kurim shopping centre prior to demolition work beginning has been welcomed by Orange City Council.

Orange Mayor Reg Kidd said neighbours in the area have been dealing with a difficult problem for many years.

“It’s never a simple process when you’re dealing with the demolition of private property,” Cr Reg Kidd said. “That’s why this whole process has gone through the court to ensure that all involved can be represented and have their rights protected.”

“It’s also important that residents living in the neighbourhood can see some light at the end of the tunnel.”

In Sydney in March the NSW Land & Environment court ruled that the owner of the property had 60 days to completely demolish the building and clear the site. The deadline for the orders is 23 May 2018.

The court order includes requirements that the owner should pay for tipping fees.

Orange City Council’s Planning & Development Committee chair Cr Russell Turner said Orange residents would be pleased with progress.

“There’s no doubt residents around the former shopping centre would have liked to have seen something happening years ago, but it is a very serious matter when it comes to demolishing private property,” Cr Russell Turner said.

“The outcome of this legal process means that it’s now the court, not the council which has imposed a demolition order. Not taking action or not meeting the deadline on this court order would be a very serious matter.”

“We’ve got some way to go still but it’s good to see real progress.”

Mayor Reg Kidd said anyone demolishing a building in Orange can save on the costs of taking material to the Ophir Rd Resource Recovery Centre by sorting their waste.

"Demolition is a regular activity in Orange and these professional demolition crews know that if they separate their waste they can take advantage of lower costs," Cr Reg Kidd said.

"Segregated waste steel can be recycled and there is no charge for taking to the Ophir Rd Centre.

"Segregated brick, concrete and tile and can be recycled. Because there is a cost to the council in dealing with this waste, there is a charge but it is still cheaper for crews to separate it out. Instead of the normal charge of about $150 dollars a tonne, the charge for taking this segregated waste to Ophir Rd Centre is about $112 a tonne.

"These rates are available for anyone who is demolishing a building."