In June, Canobolas Cottage board chair Joanne Lewis wrote to the council, asking the council to be guarantor on a $200,000 loan to complete the remainder of stage one.

Ms Lewis argued council’s involvement would reduce the interest rate, allowing for funds to be put towards the project.

The letter also asked the council to waive developer contributions for water and sewer connections, certifications and the development application.

At the meeting, Orange Health Service general manager Catherine Nowlan spoke in support of the house.

“This is a partner to the health service ... where people in need with children have the best accommodation we can give them,” she said.

Councillors decided to donate $103,000 - to match assistance provided to CareWest Lodge - from general revenue.

Waiving contributions was not supported due to their role in providing future infrastructure.

The council also did not support being a guarantor because the Canobolas Cottage board already had a building it could use as an asset for the loan. 

However, it agreed to donate the difference in interest rates as a lower-risk option. The amount, once known, would be put on public exhibition.

Mrs Lewis was happy with the outcome, saying even though the council refused certain requests, its assistance would still allow the facility’s first stage to be completed.

“It was just another scenario that was looked at,” she said.

“We couldn’t have asked for more. With that help, we will be able to open in the way we wish to open.”

She said the council’s offer to assist with future state and federal grant applications would help when it came time to build stage two’s additional 12 units.

“We’ve done all the infrastructure for the other rooms, so it will be nowhere near the cost of stage one,” she said. 

With stage two yet to come and ongoing costs for stage one about to start, Mrs Lewis welcomed additional donations.

They can be sent to PO Box 237, Orange 2800 and all donations will be acknowledged with a receipt.