Orange City Council’s draft 2017-18 budget has revealed plans to spend $1,852,500 in the next three financial years – $848,200 next financial year, $700,000 in 2018-19 and $304,300 in 2019-20.

Of those funds, the council would contribute about $500,000, applying for the remainder as grants from the state government.

Councillor Russell Turner, who is also a patron of the 2^nd Orange Scouts and a former patrol leader, said the money would cover a full kitchen upgrade and improvements to the dormitories and toilet facilities.

The roads will also be improved to cater for RVs.

Cr Turner said the facility was all usable at the moment, but it needed updating and a coat of paint and the scouts struggled to afford it.

“It could be used tomorrow, but if we’re going to attract people to Orange for sporting events or tourism events, it needs to be done, and the scouting association acknowledges it needs work,” he said.

“We have to have a broad range of accommodation in Orange for all the families who visit.”

Cr Turner said after earlier talks stalled due to changes in scout management 18 months ago, negotiations were under way with the Golden West Scouting Association and Scouting Australia’s Sydney headquarters for the council to take over the site and allow scouts to access the camp on agreed days. 

“That’s still ongoing but we would both like [the project] to proceed,” he said.

“It’s been back on track for some time and now it’s gone into the budget more firmly.”

With grants key to progress, Cr Turner said the council was “quietly satisfied” the state government would see the benefits of the idea.

“We’ve got the bike track next door that was languishing for years and we’ve breathed life into and now we just have to breathe more life into the scout camp.”

The council’s draft budget is still on public display, with submissions closing on June 6.

Visit www.orange.nsw.gov.au to access the documents.