caption:

Peter Wegner, Man resting , 2016, charcoal on paper, Kedumba Drawing Award 2017, Acquisitions Judge Paul Delprat

LEARNING: Students at Catherine McAuley at one of the museum's educational workshops during 2017.

7 December 2017

A new $5 million grant from the NSW Government has paved the way for a new rail overpass bridge to be built in South Orange, alongside a series of new road connections from Huntley Road through to the former Orange saleyards site.

Parliamentary Secretary for Western NSW Rick Colless unveiled plans Monday to give $5.36 million to Orange City Council towards the latest stage of the Southern Feeder Road project.

Further information shows the project includes :

• A new 720 metre section of road connecting the already completed section of the Southern Feeder road from Huntley Rd to Blowes Rd. On the eastern side of the tracks, the new road will include an arched drainage structure over East Orange Creek.
• A new bridge over the main western rail line. As well as the 23 metre long span over the rail line, (around 8 metres above the ground), the raised approach roads in Blowes Rd and Huntley Rd will be about 400 metres long.
• A 420 metre long extension of Edward Street through the former saleyards site, to meet the new road.
• Closing off Elsham Avenue to create a cul-de-sac on the northern side of the new southern feeder road. There will be access from Elsham from the southern/Leewood Industrial Estate side of the road. While there would be no car access onto the Southern Feeder from Elsham Ave on the northern side, there would be access for pedestrians and cyclists.

The budget for the (just under $17 million) project is :

• $5.36 million : NSW Government Fixing Country Road program
• $5.752 million : Industry funding through Section 94 contributions to Orange City Council
• $5.41 million : Other NSW funding ($3.41 million Fixing Country Road program + $2 million Safety and Congestion program)
• $400K : Orange City Council

Orange City Council has already taken design of the project to an advanced stage. It’s expected the project will go out to tender early in the new year, and that construction will begin in the second half of next year.

The project will improve access to and from Orange from the Mitchell Highway as well lessening traffic on the existing level crossing into the Leewood industrial estate.

The new road has been designed to carry 19 metre long B-Doubles.

The project is expected to generate 82 jobs during construction.

7 December 2017

The Macquarie River to Orange water pipeline is making its first major contributions to Orange’s water supply reserves.

Why hasn’t it been used before now?

The 39 kilometre pipeline was completed in 2015 but hasn’t needed to be used before now due to the increased capacity of Suma Park dam and high dam levels.

The pipeline was completed early in 2015, giving Orange residents access to a much larger catchment area in the upper reaches of the Macquarie River.

In the months after the dam-wall raising project was completed, water began flowing over the dam wall (July 2016). The level of Suma Park stayed at around 100% until December last year and it’s been gradually declining since then. Last week Suma Park was at just over 70% of capacity.

Decisions about when to call on Orange’s water sources (Macquarie pipeline, stormwater harvesting and underground bores) are managed through a complex operational tool.

The council water management team uses the tool to predict future water storage needs based on water storage levels, long term weather forecasts and current water use.

The operational tool then informs staff which water source, such as the pipeline, to use. The tool's aim is to keep overall water storage levels at around 80% of capacity.

In recent weeks, water from stormwater harvesting and district water bores has been used, and this week the Macquarie pipeline pumps have been turned on for the first time.

During an average day of pumping, the :

• Underground bores contribute 0.9 megalitres of water/day
• Stormwater harvesting contribute 8.6 megalitres of water/day
• Macquarie pipeline contributes up to 12 megalitres of water/day *
• Currently water from the catchment surrounding Suma Park is contributing 8.2 megalitres /day.

These four sources of water produce around 30 megalitres or water a day.

The Orange community is currently using around 15 megalitres of water a day.

As part of its environment controls, the pipeline can only be used when there is 108 megalitres/day (or the equivalent of 43 Olympic swimming pools per day) flowing past the off-take point in the Macquarie River.

Following heavy rain across the region last weekend, the flow at the off-take point climbed from 104 meg/day on Saturday to 475 meg/day on Monday.

The aim is that by pumping during periods of good flow in the river, Suma Park dam will be ‘topped-up’ and pumping won’t be needed during drier times.

Under conditions imposed on the project to protect the river environment the pipeline can also only be used when the level of Suma Park dam has dropped below 90% of capacity.

The pipeline can only take half of one per-cent of average annual flows in the river.

* CORRECTION : An earlier version of this article included an incorrect figure for the amount of water produced by the Macquarie pipeline. This error has now been corrected.

COMMITTEES: Orange City Council has a heritage Committee.

27 November 2017

A safe Christmas party is the best workplace Christmas party for all your friends and colleagues.

It’s now time to consider: does your workplace have a Plan B to get every one home safely?

Party goers are being encouraged to leave the car at home and make a taxi your Plan B this festive season.

The Orange Liquor Accord and Taxi Cabs of Orange are supporting Orange City Councils’ Plan B Free Taxi voucher scheme again this year.

When employers or employees register their workplace Christmas party online at www.orange.nsw.gov.au/planb, the first 10 businesses that register each week will receive up to 10 taxi vouchers valued at $10 each.

All entrants who also submit an anti-drink driving slogan on the entry form will go into the draw for a $500 rebate toward their staff Christmas party.

CAB IT : Orange mayor Reg Kidd, pictured with Orange taxi driver Rex Moscrop, is urging party-goers to catch a cab home from workplace Christmas parties this year.

Mayor of Orange Reg Kidd said the right planning will deliver a fun and safe Christmas party.

“if you’re celebrating and alcohol is involved then it’s simple. Leave the car at home and make a taxi your Plan B,” Mayor Reg Kidd said.

“With the support of the hotels of the Orange Liquor Accord and the Taxis of Orange we encourage employers and employees to register their workplace Christmas party. It’s important that all workmates are aware of the risks of drink-driving and the consequences for their families”.

Road Safety Officer for Orange and Cabonne Councils Andrea Hamilton-Vaughan said employers should remind their staff about the potential dangers of drink driving at this celebratory time of year.

Alcohol and driving is a dangerous equation and small amounts effective a driver’s reaction times and judgement calls.

“Managers and supervisors wouldn’t think twice about looking after their staff by keeping their workplace safe and organised to avoid risks,” Andrea Hamilton-Vaughan said. “It’s the same with planning a Christmas Party, to make sure everyone gets home safely.’

ROAD SAFETY : Pictured at the launch of the 'Plan B' road safety campaign are (l. to r.) Road Safetu officer Andrea Hamilton-Vaughan, Orange mayor Reg Kidd, Orange Liquor Accord chair, Mr Bill Kelly, Taxis of Orange Co-operative chair, Darryl Curran and Orange taxi driver Rex Moscrop.

The Orange Liquor Accord is contributing $1500 towards the costs of the campaign. Orange Liquor Accord chair, Mr Bill Kelly said a taxi voucher could make all the difference to a successful Christmas party.

“Calling a cab after a Christmas party is a great way of looking after your work-mates and making sure they get home safely,” Bill Kelly said. “This campaign makes good sense. It’s all about planning ahead and making sure you’ve got a Plan B.”

Taxis of Orange Co-operative chair, Darryl Curan, said the option of catching a cab home after a party should be part of the routine.

“The taxi drivers of Orange give a high priority to keeping their customers safe. It’s good that we can take this opportunity to spread the road safety message across the community. If you value your licence, don’t drink and drive”.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION :

Alcohol was a contributing factor in 13 percent of fatal accidents and 6 percent of injury crashes in Orange over the past 5 years.

In the Cabonne council area, 19 percent of fatal accidents are attributed to alcohol and 8 percent of injury crashes where the driver was impaired by alcohol.

The Plan B campaign is supported by funding from Transport NSW through the Local Government Road Safety Program.

21 November 2017

Orange Regional Museum reached a significant milestone over the weekend and there’s 36,000 reasons to celebrate.

Orange Mayor Reg Kidd said the Orange Regional Museum opened its doors 12 months ago and had been just as popular week in and out.

“That’s the number of people through the doors in the first 12 months, which is excellent,” Cr Kidd said.

“That’s 36,000 people who have experienced the history of the central west, engaged in a learning program or attended one of the interactive events such as a movie night, or went to a floor talk.

“Those visitors have been locals and people travelling from across the state.

“The numbers have been bolstered with the combination of the Orange Visitors Information Centre and the Groundstone Café in the same building.

“And what an iconic building it is.

“It’s an Orange landmark to be proud of.”

Orange City Council’s Services Policy Committee Chair Cr Kevin Duffy said more than 1,500 students had been through the museum in a school group and participated in one of the many school education programs run by museum staff.

“School students have come from as far as Parkes to participate in the programs,” Cr Duffy said.

“They often come here and spend the whole day in our cultural precinct.

“They come for a show in the Orange Civic Theatre, participate in a museum program then head to the Orange Regional Gallery and finish with a workshop and a story at Orange City Library.”

The Orange Regional Museum now has 714 objects in its permanent collection, 469 of those have been acquired since the museum opened on November 19, 2016.

During the last 12 months the museum has hosted eight temporary exhibitions including a Shackleton display from the Australian Maritime Museum, photos from the Holtermann Collection and Waste 2 Art.

“The current exhibition Journey; People, Place, Stories has been a hit with visitors with the 1926 Chevrolet called Emma a favourite of many,” Cr Kidd said.

“This exhibition has about 60 objects and the next exhibition, Paddock to Plate, already has about 300 so we’re incredibly excited for its opening in April.

“That’s one of the best aspects of Orange Regional Museum, it isn’t static, and it isn’t quiet.

“It’s fun, it’s loud, it’s for children and adults alike and like many contemporary museums, our objects change and exhibitions change.”

FIRST BIRTHDAY: Museum turns one year old - Photo by Corey Masters

17 November 2017

A new way for country airports to share best practice ideas has picked up a national award for Orange.

Orange Regional Airport shared in a national award for Innovation & Excellence at a gala presentation in Adelaide this week, alongside Dubbo, Parkes and Scone airports for their work in coordinating the new project.

Orange mayor Reg Kidd has congratulated all involved in the prize.

“Now with the extra fights to Melbourne and Brisbane, the Orange Regional Airport is becoming even more important to our local economy,” Cr Reg Kidd said. “This award recognises the fantastic work that’s happening to keep country airports in touch with new developments.”

GRINNERS : pictured (l. to r.) Cr Sam Romano, Air Corporate First Officer, Gary Burns, Acting Airport Manager Tim Mooney, Cabin Crew Manager Leighanne Gibbons, Air Corporate Captain Mark Di Rosso and Orange Airport Reporting Officer John Goldsmith.

Orange City Council Infrastructure Committee chair Cr Sam Romano was in Adelaide this week for the awards ceremony.

“The council staff at these four country airports are doing a great job and this award comes as well-earned a pat on the back for them,” Cr Sam Romano said.

“The idea to set up a new way of country airports sharing ideas came about through a discussion Orange’s former airport manager Kel Gardiner had with Linsey Mason of Dubbo,” Sam Romano said. “Then, Parkes and Scone also came on board.”

"Former councillor Chris Gryllis worked hard for the airport for many years, and his commitment to this facility played a big part in making it what it is today.

“While there might be extra support for staff in metropolitan areas, in regional areas, the Airport Reporting Officers can work in isolation," Sam Romano said. "The new forum helps the AROs network with each other to see what new directions each airport is taking and what new procedures they’re using to keep our airports safe."

As well as better information sharing, the airport staff also stage face-to-face meetings twice a year.

Orange’s Airport Reporting Officer John Goldsmith was in Adelaide for the presentation along with acting Airports Manager Tim Mooney and Infrastructure Committee chair Cr Sam Romano.

GALA : Representatives of Orange, Dubbo, Parkes and Scone airport were presented with a national award in Adelaide this week. (Inset) Acting airport manager Tim Mooney and Cr Sam Roman are pictured with Orange's award in Adelaide.

.... STORY UPDATED 21 November 2017...

17 November 2017

Australia's successful staging of football's Asian Cup in 2015 is still leaving its mark, with the latest impact a boost to club facilities for two local clubs in Orange.

Parliamentary secretetary for western NSW Rick Colless, and Football NSW infrastructure manager Daniel Ristic were both in Orange today to unveil funding for improved facilities at Jack Brabham and Waratahs sportsgrounds.

The Orange & District Football Club will receive $60,854 for the extension of club rooms to provide a meeting room and storage area at Brabham Park.

Waratahs Junior Soccer Club will receive $51,500 for the development of a small-sided field (including irrgation and floodlighting) to respond to the growing numbers of younger players (under 6s) at the Waratah sportsground.

Rick Colless is delighted to see the Asian Cup tournament continue to have a legacy in local grounds, boosting one of Australia's biggest sports in terms of participation numbers.

"Through the allocation of surplus funding from the elite level Asian Cup in 2015 to community football, it ensures that we continue to see Australia succeeding on the international stage, while getting kids more active at the same time," Rick Colless said.

"Almost 330,000 people participated in football across the state last year, an increase on the previous year."

FUNDING : Volunteer labour coordinated by members of Orange & District Football Club is continuing to make progress on an extension to clubrooms at Jack Brabham Park. Pitctured today (l. to r.) Parliamentary secretetary for western NSW Rick Colless, Committee member Brett Hazzard, Football NSW infrastructure manager Daniel Ristic, Committee member Glenn Harpley and Member for Orange Phil Donato welcome the presentation of new funding.