The latest stage of construction at the Orange Regional Museum site is under way.

A specialist crew from Sydney-based firm 'Junglefly' is installing the framework that will hold the building's landmark grassed roof.

There are two systems :

• one 8-10 cms high system for flat sections of the roof
• a separate 20 cms high framework for the sloped sections of the roof, which are on a 23-degree angle.

The latest video clip from the construction site at Suma Park dam reveals the practicalities of raising the height of a dam wall.

Orange City Council, with funding support from the NSW Government, is raising the height of the dam wall by 3 metres on the sides and 1 metre over the spillway. The higher wall boosts the water capacity of the dam by 10%.

The latest clip shows how giant L-shaped wall extensions are gently placed into position.

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You can see more clips about the dam upgrade project here.

Senior citizens will have the opportunity to learn how to use technology at three free ‘Tea and Technology’ sessions. Orange City Council’s Home & Community Centre (HACC) centre is staging sessions to assist older residents stay connected with family and friends.

Trainer Rick Hollingsworth said participants will learn about the use and benefits of technology, including emails and apps specific to participants needs.

“The sessions are aimed to demystify technology to support seniors in the local community,” Mr Hollingsworth said.

“It’s important for seniors to be able to stay connected with family and friends, keep up to date with things in the local community and be able to research their interests. That’s what we aim to have participants learn during the sessions, and all over a free cuppa.”

Orange City Council’s Services Committee chair, Cr Ron Gander said the sessions are aimed at providing both social and business support to seniors.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for seniors to embrace technology and learn the benefits of it. These sessions will provide seniors with both confidence and the skills to use modern technology,” Cr Ron Gander said.

Classes in the series are aimed at answering all questions seniors have about technology, encouraging them to embrace smart phone and tablets. “No question is a bad question,” Mr Hollingsworth said.

Barbara Tos, who has lived in Orange for 30 years, bought a tablet six months ago with the hope of keeping in touch with family and friends in Slovenia.

“Everyone has one so I thought I should buy one, but I am yet to even turn it on,” Barbara Tos said.

“I want to learn what I can use my tablet for and how to keep in touch with my family,” Barbara Tos said.

INSIGHTS : Trainer Rick Hollingsworth is looking forward to talking about online technology with Orange residents like Barbara Tos at a series of Orange City Council seminars.

The HACC centre is encouraging senior citizens to participate in the free sessions, regardless of their technology ability. ‘Tea and Technology’ will begin Friday 29 January at the Orange City Council HAAC Centre from 1pm with bookings essential.

To find out more information or to secure a spot, contact the HAC Centre on 6393 8966.

In a first for Orange, final preparations are under way for the Aquatic Centre to host the Under 16 Girls State Water Polo titles. 300 players and officials will converge on Orange this week for the four day championship.

Staff at the Orange Aquatic Centre have been busy refurbishing goals, nets and other equipment for the event, as well additional shade areas.

Orange City Council Sports & Recreation Committee chair, Cr Jason Hamling believes the event will be a great opportunity for locals to watch top level competition.

"More than twenty regional and club teams from across the state will compete in the under 16s event, including a team from Kinross Wolaroi School," Cr Jason Hamling said. "I hope staging this event in Orange will give a major boost to the sport here."

"It's a fantastic time of the year to visit Orange, and I'm sure the players, their families and support staff will take some time to soak up some local culture."

The competition games will be held in the 50m outdoor pool with the diving pool used for warm ups.

"While there'll be some inconvenience for locals with the 50 metre unavailable for swimming during the event, both indoor pools will be open as usual."

The State Championships will run from Thursday, 28 January to Sunday 31 January 2016.

Drivers are being urged to take extra care around school zones when the latest school term begins next week.

Starting January 27, school zones will be operational during the traditional pupil free day, with demerit points and fines applying if drivers fail to observe the speed limit.

School children will return to classes on January 28.

Road Safety Officer for Orange and Cabonne Councils, Andrea Hamilton-Vaughan said the start of the school year will bring increased traffic on our roads including school buses and children being dropped off by car by family members.

“To provide a safe environment for children, their parents and carers are reminded to stick to parking plans around each school and not to double-park or park in bus bays,” Andrea Hamilton-Vaughan said.

“The Drop-off and Pick-up initiative provides parents and carers with a safe environment to drop off and collect their children from school by car. The Drop-off and Pick-up initiative uses No Parking areas at schools. The areas, always on the school side of the road, are convenient for drivers and are designed to improve children’s safety.”

“Make sure all children use the designated safety door to leave the car next to the curb,” Andrea Hamilton-Vaughan said. “It is an unnecessary risk to drop children off on the opposite side of the street to cross traffic to access the school gate. I have witnessed some near misses and it is a risk. Young children crossing the road should hold the hand of an adult at all times”.

Penalties for driving breaches in school zones reflect public concern over the safety of children in school zones:

• Exceed speed 10 km/h and under 2 demerit points and a fine of $186
• Exceed speed 10km/h and over 4 demerit points and a fine of $335

Work on the roof of the Orange Regional Museum this week is bringing the project one step closer to the prospect of grass growing across the top of the new landmark building.

Staff from Junglefy, a Sydney-based firm which specialises in green walls, roofs and hanging gardens are installing the system which will support the grass, both on the flat roof and stop soil and grass washing off the museum roof during heavy rain.

Junglefy site manager Johan Kusuma said a system called geo-webbing is being installed. On the flat section of the roof, the framework is around 80 mm high while on the sloping section the framework is around 200 mm high.

The geo-webbing is “designed to hold the soil or the growing media and to stop it washing away during heavy rain,” Johan Kusuma said.

Alongside the museum’s flat roof, the building's sloping roof is built at an angle of 23 degrees.

“Junglefy is specialist in green roof and green walls systems. We’ve just worked on Barangaroo on the Sydney harbour foreshore,” Johan Kusuma said.

“There’s lots of sustainable ideas behind building a green roof and Australia is at the forefront of that.”

“The turf and 400 mm of soil is all going to help the building’s insulation:”

“It’s very progressive of Orange City Council and it’s a good step forward.”

Once the framework is completed, it’s expected that the layer of specially formulated soil will be pumped onto the roof next week, followed by the laying of turf.

FRAMEWORK : Junglefy site manager Johan Kusuma is pictured with the system of webbing held in place by cables, which will support the grassed roof of the Orange Regional Museum.

New sets of signs are in place around the Orange Civic Centre directing travellers to a new location for the Orange Visitors Centre.

Orange City Council’s Economic Development Community Committee chair, Cr Jeff Whitton said the move was prompted by a planned renovation that’s about to begin at the Orange Regional Gallery.

“With the gallery renovation due to begin soon, the Visitors’ Centre has moved from the temporary site in the gallery foyer to the foyer of the Civic Theatre,” Cr Jeff Whitton said.

“It’s a busy location with many people coming to the theatre to buy tickets for shows, so now some of those people will also be able to pick up information that’s useful both for travellers and locals alike.”

Among the first people to use the centre after last week’s move were French travellers, Aurelian Louche and Aurelie Boulin.

“We’ve been travelling in Australia for about four months,” Aurelie Boulin said. “We were looking for information about accommodation and how to find work.”

“We are looking for work on local farms, perhaps fruit picking in the Orange area,” Aurelian Louche said. “We were given some information about where we can stay and how to find jobs.”

Around 80,000 people a year coming into the Centre looking for information.

Cr Jeff Whitton said the new location will be easier for travellers.

“The previous location meant a walk alongside construction fences at the museum site, but the theatre foyer will mean easier parking and a site that’s well signposted and open seven days a week,” Cr Jeff Whitton said.

“For people who arrive in Orange on the day of a show there may also be some extra ticket sales for the theatre.”

“It’s expected the Visitors’ Centre will remain in the theatre foyer until the museum building is ready.”

“The museum is due to be completed in the first half of this year, and the Visitors’ Centre is due to be the first facility to move in to the front of the new building.”

INFORMATION : French travellers Aurelian Louche and Aurelie Boulin pick up some information from Visitors’ Centre staff member Wendy Miller in the centre’s new location in the Civic Theatre foyer.

Orange Mayor John Davis has welcomed today’s announcement by the Premier and Local Government Minister unveiling more details about its local government reform agenda.

The announcement revealed the government’s proposal for Orange City Council to merge with Cabonne and Blayney Councils.

“After a number of years of different options being very actively considered, it’s good to have some more certainty about the likely way forward,” Cr John Davis said.

“It’s also good to see that the government is taking a consultative approach to making these changes. The decision that the proposed changes will be investigated by the Boundaries Commission will give local communities the opportunity to have their say.”

“On a personal note I was pleased to take a phone call from the Minister, Paul Toole, earlier this morning. It’s good that the government is being upfront about its plans.”

“Orange City Council will be looking very closely at the details as they become available and the submission that will be made to the Boundaries Commission will reflect what we find.”

“The disparity between the transition funding that’s available to city councils compared to country councils is one very serious concern,” Cr John Davis said. “It makes no sense that each city council is being offered $10 million while regional council, which cover a much larger area are only being offered $5 million.”

Under the government plans announced today :

• The number of country councils will be reduced from 109 to 87
• 42 country councils will be merged to create 20 new regional councils
• It’s expected the Boundaries Commission may begin to investigate the proposed new council organisations in January 2016.
• There are indications the Commission may make recommendations to the Minister in May 2016
• Depending on the timing f the changes, the government had indicated the next local council elections (due in September 2016) may be postponed until the mergers are complete.

The proposed new region is about 150 kms at its longest point. As well as the major centres of Orange, Molong, Blayney and Canowindra, the proposed new region includes the area from :

• Eugowra in the west to
• the villages of Lyndhurst, Carcoar and Neville in the south
• the villages of Yeoval and the locality of Obley in the north, and
• stretching about half-way between Orange and Bathurst.

More info about the NSW Govenment's proposals at :

https://www.councilboundaryreview.nsw.gov.au/summary-sheets/blayney-shire-cabonne-and-orange-city-councils/

Orange’s community leaders have gathered in support as Orange’s Muslim community publicly unveiled its recently-opened mosque.

Community leaders gathered today including Mayor John Davis, school principals, church leaders, leaders of sporting clubs, and leaders of key community organisations.

Drivers along Byng Street have been watching with keen interest as the roof of the new Orange Regional Museum turned black this week.

The thick black covering is a bituminous membrane which will act as a water-proof lining for the roof which will eventually be covered by lawn.

Orange City Council Museum Community Committee Chair, Cr Neil Jones is delighted to see the latest progress towards the building’s landmark grassed roof.

“With the heat of the last few days, it’s hard to remember the heavy Winter storms which covered the site in snow for days earlier in the year, but this water-proofing is a crucial part of the building,” Cr Neil Jones said.

Rolls of the 3 mm-thick membrane were rolled out over the last week and then heat-sealed to form a water proof barrier. About half of the 1400 square metre roof has been completed and the rest is expected to be in place by the end the coming week.

There’s a walking path along the side of the roof but even that will be water proofed, before its covered in a further concrete layer.

“Once the water proofing is finished, it’s going to be fascinating to watch the next stage, as a ‘bee-hive’ of solid rubber cells linked by cables are installed on top of the membrane,” Cr Jones said. “This is the technology that holds the soil and stops it sliding off the roof. Then it’s the irrigation and drainage pipes before the turf is added.”

In the coming weeks people will be able to see a silver-coloured, vitrobond cladding being added on all the external walls of the building. The glass windows and doors are still some time off.