TWO locations have been ruled out for the Robertson Park toilets, but Orange mayor Reg Kidd says there is still hope a suitable location can be found.
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Orange City Council resolved seven councillors to five to rescind the DA on the eastern side of the park after nearby businesses again claimed toilets would exacerbate existing antisocial activity.
A further motion to return to the other approved DA, for toilets co-located at the CWA Hall, and restart talks with the CWA was also voted down given the association had ruled out pursuing the matter further.
Councillors Kevin Duffy, Stephen Nugent and Scott Munro put the motion forward, with Cr Duffy saying it was a heritage park.
“It’s been referred to as a Pizza Hut and I don’t think that design actually fits,” he said.
It was only ever my intent to represent the interests of the Orange community and not cause any offence.
- Councillor Glenn Taylor
He said the council had a poor rapport with the CWA, while Cr Munro said they needed “a softer manner”.
Meanwhile, councillor Tony Mileto asked whether the toilet could be close to the CWA Hall without building a courtyard, however community services director Scott Maunder said the courtyard was a security measure and the only solution was to move it away from the hall.
“You’re constrained by the monument to the east, the footpaths to the west and you can’t really go south of the CWA because then you’d build it in front of the main entrance,” he said.
Councillor Glenn Taylor, after having apologised for going “too far” during debate on the issue two weeks ago, said the debate had come full circle.
“It was only ever my intent to represent the interests of the Orange community and not cause any offence,” he said.
“I think it’s time probably now if the rescission motion’s successful the council agree that we don’t need toilets.”
However, Cr Kidd said after the meeting the matter could be considered as part of the rejuvenation of the CBD.
“If people want a toilet block, show us where,” he said.
He confirmed the $220,000 in state government funding allocated to the project was still available.
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