Orange mayor John Davis, NSW Minister for Trade, Tourism, Major Events and Sports Stuart Ayres and Nationals candidate for Orange Scott Barrett announced $25,000 from the state government’s Community Building Partnerships fund would match $25,000 from the council this financial year for outdoor courts and games.

The council would spend a further $25,000 in the 2017-18 financial year to complete the project.

Plans include a hardcourt futsal field, a basketball court, permanent table tennis facilities and fencing at the old netball courts along the Lords Place side of the park.

Orange City Council applied for the funding in July.

Cr Davis hoped the popularity of the neighbouring playground facilities at the corner of Warrendine Street would extend to the netball court site once it was complete.

“Usually at weekends, you’ll find at least 50 or 150 people on the corner here – I would suggest that will probably double,” he said.

“It’s great to be able to use this hardstand area, it’s already here.”

Cr Davis said the growing number of families was a challenge for the council. 

“The last Census figures showed that the biggest part of our population was infants, from nought to four years old so in 10 years’ time, we’re going to have 15-year-old kids that need amenities and sporting facilities,” he said.

“We’ve got libraries, we’ve got art galleries, we’ve got theatres, we’ve got food and wine, but there’s the pressure to have sporting facilities for our young people.”

However, the money is contingent on Mr Barrett’s success at the November 12 byelection. 

Mr Barrett confirmed $25,000 had been earmarked for the electorate, but which project was ultimately chosen would fall to the successful candidate.

He said he would put the priority on Moulder Park if he was elected.

“The local MP has the weighting on that one,” he said.

“These little projects here and there are ones that make towns like Orange… tick, they’re the ones I want to invest in to make sure our communities remain strong.”

Mr Ayres said it was a good plan to improve the use of the area.