On Tuesday night, councillors endorsed the mid-term review, which set out the council’s achievements so far, including the first class of children to complete winter swimming lessons, the opening of the Northern Distributor Road and progress on the Macquarie Pipeline, Suma Park Dam, Orange Airport and Orange Regional Museum projects. 

In the year 2013-14, $8 million was spent on roads, more than double any year previously, while $383 million worth of development applications and complying developments were approved in the past two years.

The report also noted 500 children regularly attended the council’s childcare care centres.

While there was some talk about returning to the basics of rates, roads and rubbish in the lead-up to the mayoral and deputy mayoral elections last week, Cr Davis said they were just the baseline and services did not stop there.

“Whether it’s providing child care for local families, a meal to elderly residents, water connections to new homes or major projects, there’s a lot for local residents to be proud of,” he said.

“The Orange community would by far be worse off if the city council stuck only to delivering the basics, especially since so much of these community building services and projects end up being great for the local economy as well.

“It’s about our community. They pay the bills and it puts a spring in your step to being part of Orange.”

In his report, general manager Garry Styles said people’s desire to live in Orange was a solid endorsement of the council’s activities, while councillor Jeff Whitton believed the figures could even promote tourism.

“This is something every visitor to this city should have access to. It’s probably the best tourism document you would ever see,” he said.

danielle.cetinski@fairfaxmedia.com.au