Orange City Council’s recently-approved capital program has listed $6,350,000 to be spent in 2019-20 and $13,650,000 in 2020-21, but they depend on successful grant funding.

Committee chairman and councillor Kevin Duffy said the council hoped to obtain $5 million from the state government and $10 million from the federal government, leaving $5 million to come from ratepayers. 

Proceeds from the sale of the old Orange Regional Conservatorium premises on Hill Street would go towards the new building. 

Cr Duffy said the project had taken priority behind the southern feeder road, which has received almost $15 million in the past year. 

“We needed other funding to do the southern feeder road, but if something does eventuate with other meetings, we can look at it and make sure it happens,” he said.

“To have it deferred for a year, it’s a bit of a setback, don’t worry about that, but we can have a better crack at the funding.”

Cr Duffy said a meeting had been scheduled with Minister for the Arts Mitch Fifield last Monday during the Australian Local Government Association conference, but the minister had to postpone until Tuesday when councillors were due back in Orange to vote on the budget. 

“It was a disappointment,” he said. 

But he remained positive given state and federal elections were looming. 

“We’ve got to be proactive, this is going to bring jobs to Orange,” he said.

‘It’s fast becoming a cultural city, we’ve got the food and wine but there’s more to it than that.”

The first concept designs for the Northcourt site were completed last year, including a 250-seat auditorium, 30 teaching rooms for music students and a 70-seat planetarium.

The development application has been circulated to committee members, but despite early expectations it would go to councillors by last August, it has not been put to councillors as yet. 

With concerns previously voiced on the project’s impact on an already busy Orange Civic Centre car park, Cr Duffy said the former former CF Williams land on Peisley Street remained an option.