Orange mayor John Davis has responded to the NSW Government decision to put a halt to council mergers in regional areas.

Mayor Davis said the council had always supported government government policy on amalgamations.

"Our decision was to support the government," Cr John Davis told reporters at a media conference called after the announcement 14 February. "If they were going to have amalgamation, we would be in tent."

He said he was disappointed and surprised by the decision.

"I think that Blayney and Cabonne and ourselves in partnership could have been a power-house in the future. We could have got more grant funding, more projects."

"We operate as a region now, however without a structured one-piece organisation."

"Disappointing, but let's move on and let's see what we can do."

EARTH MOVING: Orange Mayor John Davis, Nathan Wood of Hamcon Civil and Wayne Gailey, works manager Orange City Council at the site of earth works on Clergate Road.

The Spirit of Anzac Centenary Experience, the largest free travelling exhibition ever featured by the Australian War Memorial featuring more than 200 artefacts on display, will visit the Central West Region for five days only, and will be at the Orange Indoor Tennis Club from 12 – 17 March 2017.

The exhibition allows visitors to journey through the nation’s footsteps into the First World War in new and engaging ways and offers access to historical objects, such as the last shell fired by the Anzacs at Gallipoli, rarely seen outside the National Capital.

Major General (retired) Brian Dawson from the Australian War Memorial announced the visit, “This is a free exhibition to mark the Anzac Centenary, 1914 to 1918, and will only visit the area once.

"The response so far has been tremendous, so I urge visitors to book their free place through the website at www.spiritofanzac.gov.au quickly to avoid disappointment.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the people of the Central West region to learn of the ways in which the sacrifice of our service men and women has shaped, and continues to shape, Australia as a nation,” Major General Dawson said.

Orange Mayor John Davis encouraged everyone from across the region to come along and experience what the Australian War Memorial had to offer, but experience it in our own backyard.

"We're incredibly lucky to have this travelling exhibition come to Orange and it looks phenomenal," he said.

The Spirit of Anzac Centenary Experience includes a community zone that has been created in consultation with local organisations.

The community zone has been a consistently popular feature at all locations to date as it shares the stories of local servicemen and women who contributed to Australia’s First World War efforts.

More than 280,000 Australians have already been through the exhibition and the response has been overwhelmingly positive.

The exhibition is open in Orange at the Indoor Tennis Club from 12 -17 March 2017.

Hours are from 9.00 am – 5.30 pm. Tickets are limited so book early to ensure you don’t miss out. Free tickets for the exhibition can be booked at www.spiritofanzac.gov.au or 1300 462 313.

SPIRIT OF ANZAC: Orange Mayor John Davis welcomes Major General (retired) Brian Dawson from the Australian War Memorial to launch the coming exhibition.

LAUNCHED: Orange mayor John Davis, Fly Corporate's sales manager Geoff Woodham and Orange Councillor Chris Gryllis at the launch of the air service.

HANGING OUT: Orange City Council senior project manager Robin Edwards talks about the new helicopter hangar with Mayor John Davis.

The Orange Harness Racing Club is moving its races to the grass track at Towac Park.

The move has been welcomed by the sport's state-wide administrative body, Harness Racing NSW and supported by Orange City Council. The first two meetings will be held Feb 5 and Feb 12.

• At Towac Park, races will be held on the longer grass track. Races will be run ‘right-handed’ (in contrast to ‘left-handed’ direction that’s more common in NSW to use existing infrastructure).

• Instead of a number of circuits of a shorter track, it’s expected horses will use the mobile starting gates starting in the home straight for the 2100 m races and completing one circuit after passing the winning post.

• The dates for the first two race meetings have been set. Sunday 5 February for a preliminary TAB meeting and then Sunday 12 February for a TAB ‘Carnival of Cups’ meeting.

• New Zealand race caller Mark McNamara has agreed to call the races on the day.

• Orange City Council has supported the club’s change of location with an annual $20,000 grant.

Plans for a new 77-room motel and apartment complex have gone on show for community comment.

Under the plans, the 'Proposed Quest Apartments' would be built on the site of the former Central western Daily building in Kite St.

The proposal is being seen as another sign of the health of the Orange economy.

The proposal involves :

• the demolition of the existing building and the construction of a four storey, 77 room motel (44 rooms under a dual key arrangement);
• ancillary facilities including café,
• conference room,
• business lounge, gym, reception area and offices; and one retail tenancy.

The proposed development provides 77 off-street car parking spaces. Access to the car park will be via a one-way entry from McNamara Street and one-way exit to Kite Street.

The proposed development also includes a 44 lot Strata subdivision, corresponding with each of the 44 rooms under a dual key arrangement.

The deadline for community comment is Monday 6 February

SEE MORE ABOUT THE PROPOSAL and download the plans

The opening of a new youth centre at the PCYC is the highlight of this year’s Orange Youth Week.

Orange City Council’s Services Committee Chair Ron Gander said the centre would be a hub for young people to access service providers but it’s also a safe space to hang out, play air hockey, listen to music and play board games.

“It’s a place where they can go to unwind but there will be representatives from a broad range of organisations in a nearby area so it gives young people an option to seek help or advice if they want to,” Cr Gander said.

“Otheriwse it’s just a great space designed for young people where they can relax and catch up with friends.”

This year’s Youth Week aims to include young people of all backgrounds from those who like art and culture to those who enjoy sport and recreation.

From Friday March 31 to Sunday April 9, there’s also events and activities designed to educate young people about how to cope with mental health struggles as well as information on education courses and access to youth related services providers.

Cr Gander said this year, young people in the council’s Youth Action Council (YAC) would be taking their skills directly to schools where they would host a series of workshops.

“The team are joining with mental health service providers to present drama performances about issues affecting young people, such as bullying,” he said.

“It’s the first time the group have been able to do this kind of thing during Youth Week because the last two years it’s been held during the school holidays.

“It’s a great opportunity for young people to not only, get out and about and meet others but also get some advice about what they might want to study after school, how to prepare for a job interview or even just meet people in organisations that might be able to help them out.

“It’s also going to be about fun.”

This year’s Youth Week will open with the launch of the new youth centre room in the PCYC building in Seymour Street on March 31 and will feature a range of activities such as a Cinema Under the Stars by Youth Hope, a Totem Skate School session, a netball gala day and a sports carnival as well as an art class in the Orange Regional Museum.

Information and a timetable of events will be posted to the Orange Youth Action Council Facebook page in the coming week.

• Friday March 31 – PCYC youth centre launch and 80 years of PCYC celebrations
• Saturday April 1 and Sunday April 2- a youth team entered in the Relay For Life called the YACers
• Monday April 3, Tuesday April 4 and Wednesday April 5 – mental health presentation in schools
• Thursday April 6- job search skills workshops
• Friday April 7 – Cinema Under the Stars
• Saturday April 8- art class at the Orange Regional Museum and the Yindyamarra Cup sports day.
• Sunday April 9- Netball ‘come and try’ gala day and the Totem Skate School

FUN FOR ALL: A skate school is part of 2017's Youth Week.