Here are some key decisions from the 19 August Council meeting.
Sports Precinct timeline
Council has provided the community with a timeline of the Sports Precinct construction process, click here. It shows what's been happening at different stages, explains delays, and highlights the main milestones along the way. The timeline runs right through to when the Sports Precinct is finished and up and running, so everyone can see how things are planned to progress.
Sale of illegal nicotine products
Council will write to the state government asking for more local support to help stop the sale of illegal nicotine products in Orange. Council also welcomed the new laws cracking down on illicit nicotine products, and suggested stronger law enforcement measures be considered to make sure the rules can be properly enforced.
Manufactured Home Estate (MFE)
Council has been notified of a development application (DA) for a Manufactured Home Estate (MFE) at 184 Leeds Parade. The MFE DA has 410 dwellings and includes community facilities and civil works. Approval of the development will be considered by the Western Regional Planning Panel on 2 September 2025. Council staff have completed their assessment and identified major environmental, social, and planning concerns, and are recommending refusal of the application in its current form. Councillors will also make a submission to the panel supporting Council staff's recommendation to refuse the development.
Councillor expenses
Each year Council must share a report on the costs and facilities provided to Councillors. The latest report covers 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025, with new Councillors' figures calculated from when they started in October 2024. These expenses are budgeted for each year to help Councillors do their jobs, and no extra issues or risks have been found
Aquatic Centre policy updates
Council has put off putting the updated Aquatic Centre strategic policy on public exhibition until Councillors get advice and have a briefing. The draft policy has a clause about bathroom and changeroom use based on biological sex and gender identity. Before it goes out for feedback, Council wants to be clear on the use of the term biological sex in the policy and how it fits with NSW anti-discrimination laws.
