Consultation has concluded
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Earth work project under way next to North Orange creek
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25 April 2018Earthworks are under way alongside William Maker Driver in North Orange as Orange City Council builds a new area to cope with heavy run-off in the event of a storm.Orange Mayor Reg Kidd said the $300,000 project is needed because of residential growth in North Orange.“The area where the new suburbs of North Orange are being built used to be open farm land,” Cr Reg Kidd said. “One of the big impacts when lots of roads and driveways are built is that there is much more run-off, and when there is a major storm, that water has got to have somewhere to go.”
“The new area alongside William Maker Drive is called a detention basin. After a storm, when there’s a sudden increase in the amount of water flowing through Golding Creek, this open flat area gives the water somewhere to go. From there it can drain away slowly and not create potential erosion damage.
“Part of the area will be planted out to create a ‘swampy meadow’ and that will make a contribution to cleaning up the water that makes its way back into the creek. Golding Creek is a very small waterway but it’s all part of the Macquarie River catchment and all communities along our rivers have got to play their part in adding to water quality.”
Orange City Council’s Infrastructure Committee Chair Cr Sam Romano said the project is fully funded by Orange City Council with a budget of $300,000.“The project includes the installation of new sewer lines, installing stormwater drains, new concrete footpaths and the construction of embankment and spillway,” Cr Sam Romano said.“Blayney firm CPB Excavations were awarded the contract to build the basin.“The site including the concrete walking path, has been fenced off during the construction period and pedestrians will need to use alternative walking routes during the work. We’re on-track to finish the project by mid-June, weather permitting. Working hours will be Monday to Friday 7:00 am to 5:00 pm.”
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Council recycling programs have steady future
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23 April 2018The Orange community can have confidence in the council-run recycling program, despite industry uncertainty triggered by international policy changes.
Orange Mayor Cr Reg Kidd said residents can continue to use their yellow recycling bins with confidence, to make sure valuable waste resources can be used profitably and kept out of landfill.“It looks like some local councils around Australia are just waking up to some significant changes in the industry and are throwing their hands up in the air,” Cr Reg Kidd said. “As part of the western NSW NetWaste network, Orange City Council has been working through this issue since January and while there are some tough challenges ahead, it’s important the community knows some short-term solutions have already been worked out.”BACKGROUND INFORMATION:- As part of the Netwaste network, recyclable waste is collected in Orange by contractor JRR Richards. The waste is then sorted and transported to Richard’s contractor, VISY, in Sydney. Earlier this year VISY advised its clients it could no longer accept waste.
- Under the new ‘National Sword’ policy, China has announced it will no longer accept recyclable waste from other countries which it believes is contaminated.
- After renegotiating a new contract which includes payment of an extra $60/tonne, VISY has advised it will invest in new ways of processing waste, and it will now continue to accept waste from central west councils.
- Orange City Council and others within the NetWaste group of Councils will be making application to the Environment Protection Authority for relief funding to assist with short to longer term management of the issue. Financial support of up to $75/tonne from this State Government relief package will be used in meeting additional processing costs; improving Council tendering processes to increase the production and use of recycled products and fund community education initiatives to reduce kerbside recycling contamination.
“The trickle-down effect is that councils now face significant new costs to continue to provide kerbside recycling to residents,” Cr Reg Kidd said.
“But, the other side of the coin with this so-called crisis is that it may be the opportunity to explore a bold new future for recycling in Australia. There are real opportunities here and with state and federal government support we could develop new regional jobs in a home-grown environmental and recycling industry.“Government budgets are tight but one way forward is to ensure that the hundreds of millions of dollars in waste levies collected from NSW communities each year are fully reinvested to support recycling. “It’s estimated that the NSW Government collected $660 million from local councils in waste levies in the last financial year, but only 18% of that money was returned to local government.“Along with Local Government NSW, I call on the NSW Government to dedicate more of the proceeds of the waste levy to the cause for which it was collected.“Amongst the coverage of this crisis it’s been very interesting to see how much of the technology already exists which could prevent almost all waste going to landfill. And now is the time to invest in the infrastructure to make that happen.“Orange has been a leader in waste management over many years. We were one of the first regional councils to introduce recycling, as well as kitchen & garden kerbside collection to build an industrial-scale compost production system. It will take some structural change at the national level but there will also be local opportunities.“I think the next challenges to be explored offer some exciting ways forward. Orange is the place where recycled glass is brought from across the western region. Why not a manufacturing plant to produce silica as a base for roadmaking and construction? What about a power plant that uses waste to generate electrical energy?“Perhaps the change of policy by China, and the shake-up in the local waste management industry, will turn out to be a catalyst for creating a much better waste management future. Everyone in the waste industry supports less reliance on export markets and more investment in on-shore processing options.Now is the time to invest in the infrastructure to make that happen.”
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Council pleased with signs of progress on Kurim shops
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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."
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Your Dog’s details up to date?
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Friday April 13, 2018After the success of last month’s half price pet microchipping, Orange City Council and Canobolas Family Pet Hospital is offering the service again to anyone who has an unmicrochipped dog or cat.Headspace Orange has organised a pet friendly event - Bark in the Park - to be held in the North Court Orange, from 10am – 12pm this Sunday.During this event staff from Canobolas Family Pet Hospital will be on hand to scan your pet for a chip and update any details such as owner’s phone number and address, free of charge.Pet owners can also pick up a voucher, which allows the recipient to book their pet in to Canobolas Family Pet Hospital, to be injected with a microchip for a price of $17, rather than $34.Orange Mayor Reg Kidd said Council was taking a proactive approach to help keep the numbers of lost pets down.“We’re offering this half price microchipping service because it means Orange’s furry friends can be returned home quickly and safely,” Cr Kidd said.“Last month’s half price microchipping day was a great success because 50 pets went home with microchips.“That means 50 pets will be able to be reunited with their families should they manage to escape the yard.”Orange City Council’s Companion Animals Committee Chair Stephen Nugent said Orange residents should take the opportunity to come to the Northcourt, check their pet’s microchip details, for free, and listen to what Headspace has to say about the role of pets and our mental health.“It’s commonly known pets can have a wonderful, positive impact on people’s mental health,” Cr Nugent said.“Come on over to the Northcourt, with the family and the family dog on a leash, and stay to learn about the value of pets as therapy or service animals.”Cr Kidd said he wanted to thank Canobolas Family Pet Hospital for its contribution to helping keep Orange’s pets safe.“One of the best things about living in Orange is seeing local businesses going that extra mile to help our community,” Cr Kidd said.“I’d like to congratulate Canobolas Family Pet Hospital on its commitment to making our community a better place for its residents, even those with four legs.”
MICROCHIP: Canobolas Family Pet Hospital vet Lauren Slater checks Bella's microchip details.
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Foodies flock to food feast
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Wednesday April 11, 2018. Photos by Jude Keogh.The opening of the latest Orange Regional Museum exhibition was a feast of knowledge as more than 1,700 people walked through the doors over the weekend.Orange Mayor Reg Kidd said the decision to open Paddock to Plate; a history of food and wine in Orange and district, during Orange FOOD Week had paid off.
CAPTIVATED: Hundreds of people were fascinated by the curator talks delivered by consultant curator Sandra McEwen.
“At least half the people wandering through the doors are from postcodes outside of the region and that is fantastic,” Cr Kidd said.“They’re here for FOOD Week and they have come in and seen the exhibition, seen the history and stunning imagery of our place in the world.“It’s not the kind of exhibition you can take in completely on the first visit so I’m sure they’ll be back.”Orange City Council’s Services Policy Chair Cr Kevin Duffy said the feedback about the new exhibition had been phenomenal.“There are objects from early Wiradjuri people, such as grinding stones, next to tools used more recently, for similar purposes such as a mortar and pestle,” Cr Duffy said.“The journey from Paddock to Plate throughout the years is expertly presented.”Cr Duffy said the interactive dinner table with meals from six different decades had been popular.“You can literally sit down and join the dinner table with projected food from the 1860s through to this century, which shows clearly how times have changed,” Cr Duffy said.The opening was just the beginning and a broad range of events and activities are available over the coming months for all ages to accompany the new display.New activities are starting in a couple of weeks with ‘Fruits and Flavours’ school holiday cordial making workshops and continuing with the return of ‘Mondays at the Museum’ for parents and children under 5 on the 7th May.For adults exhibition tours will run from the 12th May and an afterhours opening will be held in celebration of International Museum Day on the 17th May.Basket Weaving Workshops start in May and Thornbrook Orchard has joined with the museum to offer a producers site visit on Saturday 26th May.Event and activities continue throughout the year finishing with a celebration of cherries in December.“Just like the previous exhibition Journeys; People, Place Stories, this exhibition will be packed full of hands-on learning experiences with art, craft, workshops and excursions,” Cr Duffy said.“Be sure to follow the Orange Regional Museum on Facebook or check in with its website so you can keep in touch with what’s coming up.”Booking for tickets and more information on all events can be found via orangemuseum.eventbrite.com or by contacting 6393 8444.
OPENING: Jackie and Peter Grant, Audrey Tonkin, Brenda Gray, Rodney Tonkin, Kerry and Orange Mayor Reg Kidd.
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Orange to host central west Elders Olympics
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April 9, 2018.With up to 10 teams and over 200 eager competitors, Elders from across the region will descend on Sir Neville Howse Stadium Wednesday 11 April for the 2018 Central West Elders Olympics.The 5th annual Central West Elders Olympics will once again be a feature of this year’s NSW Seniors’Festival celebrations in Orange (4 April to 15 April).
Orange mayor Reg Kidd said the Elders’ Olympics will bring together Aboriginal Elders and seniors fromacross traditional Wiradjuri country to participate in modified sporting activities and traditional Indigenous games.“The games are designed for competitors over 50 years of age,” Cr Reg Kidd said. “There’ll be events for all ages and abilities. from modified ball games to traditional hunting games like ‘Gorri’ where participants will throw ‘modified spears’ at moving targets.”Orange City Council’s Services Policy Committee chair Cr Kevin Duffy is looking forward to welcoming the region’s participants to Orange for the Elders Olympics.“It’s fantastic that Orange is hosting this event,” Cr Duffy said. “The Elders’ games are a great example ofhow keeping active can bring the community together.”Central West Aboriginal Sector Support & Development Officer Jordon Moore, said the event continues to grow each year.“With teams coming from as far as Dubbo, West Wyalong and Condobolin, it’s a great opportunity to come together for a friendly competition, catch up with old friends, make new friends and have some fun in the process,” Jordon Moore said.“It’s important to look for ways to build our shared culture for the future.”During the day the Orange Aboriginal Medical Service will be providing First Aid, and will also be on hand to take blood pressure and talk about the importance of keeping healthy and active as they get older.Students from James Sheahan Catholic High, Canobolas Rural Technology High and Orange High School will be assisting with the individual activities on the day and working with the Elders to make sure everything runs smoothly.The event was made possible by a grant through the NSW Seniors Festival program.'The 2018 Central West Elders Olympics will be held on Wednesday 11 April at Sir Neville Howse Stadium (PCYC), 2-10 Seymour Street, Orange from 10:00am - 3:00pm.The day is open to spectators, is free to attend and will feature a range of modified sporting activities,traditional Indigenous games and a cultural experience catered by Indigenous Cultural Adventures.The Central West Elders Olympics has been generously sponsored by Orange Local Aboriginal Land Council, Orange Aboriginal Medical Service, and Birrang Enterprise Development Co Ltd.
COMPETITION: Teams compete during last year's Elder Olympics
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Orange scores two category wins in National Tidy Towns awards
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7 March 2018The City of Orange has picked up two category wins in the ‘Keep Australia Beautiful (KAB) National Tidy Towns’ awards.Orange represented NSW in the national awards after winning the state-wide prize late last year.
At the awards ceremony on Friday night, Orange was awarded the top prize in the ‘Dame Phyllis Frost Litter Prevention, Waste Management & Resource Recovery’ category and also shared the category prize with the eventual national winner for ‘Environmental Sustainability’. Local young environmental activist Bailey Dickinson-Bubb was awarded a Highly Commended award in the ‘Young Legends’ category.Orange Mayor Reg Kidd congratulated all involved in putting together Orange’s entry.“This is a fantastic result for Orange and a real pat-on-the-back for the local community,” Cr Reg Kidd said. “Awards like this don’t just happen without years of hard work by keen community members supported by council staff.”“We are always looking at continuous improvement, and this is shown in this recognition for our waste management and progress in better environment sustainability. A big thank you goes out to all the members of the Tidy Towns Community Committee.”The awards were presented on the weekend in the South Australian town of Barmera, the centre which won last year’s national Tidy Town award. This year the national winner of the Tidy Towns award was the town of Smithton, on the north west coast of Tasmania (Pop. 3,881).
WINNERS: Orange Deputy Mayor Cr Joanne McRae and council staff member Roger Smith are pictured at the awards ceremony in Barmera.
Orange deputy Mayor Cr Joanne McRae represented Orange at the awards presentation ceremony on Friday night.“Managing waste is one of those tasks that local councils do, that can slip under the radar,” Cr Joanne McRae said. “When it’s done well it can be almost invisible, but an award like this is a good reminder of why it’s so important to manage waste in the best way we can.”“There aren’t many regional councils that have invested in a weekly household kitchen & garden waste collection, and who then take the extra step of locally turning that waste into industrial quantities of compost.”“The aim of any good waste management system is to find what’s valuable in the waste stream and divert as much as possible out of landfill. Both with recycling and with kitchen & garden waste, more than half the waste from Orange’s homes is being put to good use and not simply buried in the ground.”“A national win in the Environmental Sustainability category is another sign that the Orange community is getting things right when it comes to making sure we’re looking after the environment on the long-term.“What’s interesting is that this work has benefits a number of different levels. The four constructed wetlands that are a part of a pioneering stormwater harvesting scheme are making a significant contribution to our city’s water supply. They’re also adding corridors of bushland among residential areas. They become places for recreation and habitat for wildlife. They’re also places where hundreds of community members come together every year plants thousands of new trees.“It’s a sign that when we aim at environmental sustainability, we’re helping to grow our community in so many different ways.”
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Double exhibition opening during FOOD Week
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Wednesday, April 4,2018.The Orange Regional Gallery will reveal two new exhibitions beginning this Saturday, in time for Orange’s FOOD Week.The first, a major exhibition called Interiors, features works from at least nine different galleries and private collections across the country including the National Gallery of Australia, Art Gallery of NSW and the Reserve Bank of NSW.
Cressida Campbell, Interior with poppies (Margaret Olley’s house), 1994. unique woodblock, watercolour on plywood, 120 x 240 cm
Tweed Regional Gallery Collection, Donated through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program by Philip Bacon AM, 2016
The exhibition consists of 44 paintings and works on paper including works by well-known modernist painters such as Grace Cossington Smith, Francis Lymburner, Margaret Olley and Brett Whiteley.Orange Mayor Reg Kidd said the major exhibition was a must-see for art lovers across the country.“This exhibition features an extensive range of high-profile artists who show us how the spaces around us shape how we grow,” Cr Kidd said.“The artworks feature a range of inner spaces, or rooms, that have somehow shaped the artist and who they are.“For me, I’ve always loved being outdoors, that was my kind of space.“The Botanic Gardens is my favourite space. Surrounded by natural beauty and sculpture, it’s a wonderful place for private reflection.”“Through this exhibition you’ll be able to see the spaces that influenced these artists and compare it to perhaps your own experiences and see the similarities or differences.”Orange Regional Gallery has collaborated with curator Gavin Wilson to create the exhibition and as visitors will see, he has curated an exhibition which offers surprising variation and depth.The second exhibition, Vicissitudes, to open this Friday features sculptures and creations by artist Apolinario (Pol) Cruz.
Services Policy Committee Chair Cr Kevin Duffy said Pol Cruz’s works had been a regular feature of Orange Regional Gallery’s major group exhibitions.“Many regular gallery visitors will recognise his specific style and his inventive and creative way of making art out of found objects and ceramics,” Cr Duffy said.Pol’s work focuses on issues relating to migration and displacement.
Vicissitudes is on in gallery 2 from April 7 to May 20 while Interiors runs in gallery 1 from April 7 to June 24.Both exhibitions will be officially opened on Friday April 13 at 6pm by Michael Rolfe, CEO Museums and Galleries NSW.Everyone is welcome to attend the opening where light refreshments and live music will be provided free of charge.
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Museum opens with festival of food
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Thursday, March 29, 2018The new Orange Regional Museum exhibition opens with a festival of local markets, live music, kids’ workshops and curator’s tours.On Saturday 7th April 2018 Orange Regional Museum will open ‘Paddock to Plate: a history of food and wine in Orange and district’.
This major new exhibition celebrates the history of food and wine in the Orange region, revealing how growing, processing, distribution and consumption of food has changed over time.It’s been a year in the making and it has taken 9 weeks to install but Orange Mayor Reg Kidd said the exhibition was well worth the wait.“This exhibition has been put together by consultant curator Sandra McEwen who has over 30 years’ experience working with Sydney’s Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences, popularly known as the Powerhouse Museum,” Cr Kidd said.“Paddock to Plate: A History of food and wine in Orange and district has over 300 objects from the past to the present showing how the region’s food production has changed.“It’s full of interactive, digital displays and it comes with a full-scale children’s education program where students can get hands-on experience with many of the tools from days gone by.”Orange City Council’s Services Policy Committee Chair Cr Kevin Duffy said the public opening day coincided with the region’s FOOD Week and the popular daily FOOD HQ would be held within the museum.“It’s fitting that locals and tourists alike will come into the museum to sample the products from FOOD Week while being surrounded by the region’s food history.“The exhibition will start with Mount Canobolas, an ancient volcano, which created the soils and climate that attracted Indigenous people, then others from across the world.“Through over 300 historic objects and photographs, ‘Paddock to Plate: a history of food and wine in Orange and district’ will take audiences on an adventure of exceptional flavours and share the stories of the innovative people that created them.”The exhibition will open from 9am and visitors can sign on for a guided tour with Ms McEwen on the day.A producers markets is on from 9am to 1pm in the south court while kids’ lemonade making workshops are on from 10am to 1pm.On Sunday April 8, families are invited for apron decorating workshops from 9.30am to 11am.FOOD HQ will begin at 11am followed by choir performances 12.30pm to 1pm.
PADDOCK TO PLATE: The latest Orange Regional Museum exhibition is nearing completion.
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New tunnel to connect new suburbs and boost community health
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27 March 2018
Orange mayor Reg Kidd has welcomed Orange’s new rail under pass as an important new link between expanding new suburbs, as well as an investment in keeping Orange residents healthy and active.Construction crews are putting the final touches to the new 14 metre long tunnel which connects two walking/bike paths on either side of the main western railway line in South Orange.The tunnel, 14 metres long and 3 metres wide, will be the key link in the Southern Link Cycleway, which is planned to run from the new hospital precinct and Shiralee Village, to the central business district of Orange.The $600,000 project is being built with funds from Transport for NSW under their Cycling Towns program. The project was being built by construction firm Bridge & Civil Pty Ltd.During an organised 4-day break in rail traffic in early March, when track work was happening in other locations around Orange, crews worked around the clock to complete the tunnel project.Orange City Council has now started work on 400m of connecting concrete footpath on the southern side of the track.
The under-rail link will connect Orange’s existing path network to Sundew Circuit via an easement through James Sheahan School land, giving potential access to both James Sheahan and Orange Christian School students to the off-road path network.“There’s so much research about the importance of staying active if you want to stay healthy long term.” Cr Reg Kidd said. “For a council, that means making it easy and attractive to take a regular walk or even ride a bike to work.”“The first housing blocks are starting to appear in the Shiralee area so it’s important we’re ahead of the game when it comes to building transport infrastructure such as this.“This is the third and final year of the funding stream that has seen delivery of the Active Travel Plan, schools programs, mapping, brochures, signage, paths, boardwalks, on-road markings and bike racks installed throughout the city,” Cr Reg Kidd said. “All of these steps have the aim of encouraging more people to ride or walk to school or work”.
TIME LAPSE : This time-lapse clip of the tunnel construction project shows four days of activity in a minute and a half.On the southern side of the tracks, about 400 metres of the path towards Sundew Circuit is already under construction and is expected to be completed in early May.Transport for NSW has funded the tunnel and is delivering the project through their infrastructure manager, all within the auspice of the Cycling Towns grant received from the RMS over three years, totalling over $2,000,000 of spending from the State Government and Council.
