Enough land for 15 years in Orange

Orange Mayor John Davis has moved to quell speculation land in Orange was fast running out.

He said Orange has about 15 years’ worth of land to be developed, despite comments that available land in Orange would be bought up within six months.

Cr Davis said, the council has recently re-zoned the Shiralee area in south Orange, which opened up 1600 residential blocks.

“In general terms it’s estimated that Orange has around 15 years’ worth of land in private hands that’s zoned residential that’s able to be developed, Cr Davis said.

“When developers choose to do that, and which agents they choose to manage sales, is a matter for their market judgement.”

Orange City Council controls the zoning of land, and from time to time re-zonings happen in consultation with the community and state authorities, Cr Davis said.

Unlike the state government, which releases large tracts of land for residential development in Sydney, in Orange the timing surrounding the release of new residential blocks is largely up to the market and property developers

But because Orange City Council is very keen to attract jobs to Orange, it’s a slightly different story with industrial land, he said.

“Staff keep a close eye on the demand for industrial land and we work to make sure there is enough land to meet the needs of businesses which want to move to Orange,” Cr Davis said.

Cr Davis said it was common practice to ask developers to fund part of the infrastructure needed for new estates and that Orange City Council charged the same rate as any other area in NSW.

“The cost of building new parks, traffic roundabouts and sportsgrounds around new housing developments has got to come from somewhere,” he said.

“When developers are making a profit out of creating new residential subdivisions, it’s fair that those developers and the people who buy the property pay for those facilities instead of putting the cost onto other ratepayers who aren’t directly affected.”

The council sets its Section 94 contributions after consultation with the community. They are capped by state government regulations.

EXPANSION: Orange is expanding at a constant rate.