Top 5 events which defined 2018 in Orange

But while Mount Canobolas burning and Newcrest’s Cadia mine dam wall collapse captured our attention for all the wrong reasons, the stories which gave everyone something to smile about came in just as fast.

With the year drawing to a close, the Central Western Daily’s ALEX CROWE looks back on the events which shocked and shaped Orange in 2018 ...

At 9.57pm on Saturday, February 10 the NSW Rural Fire Service issued a warning that a 12-hectare bushfire was burning out of control on the western side of Mount Canobolas.

Fire services advised residents of Old Canobolas Road, Pinnacle Road and Lake Canobolas Road to evacuate towards Orange,  and an emergency evacuation point was established at the showgrounds.

Throughout the week firefighters battled against 30 degree days before the blaze was eventually controlled seven days and 1600 hectares of bushland later.

One major city block got a new lease on life in July when it was announced the Department of Primary Industries would occupy the former Orange Base Hospital site.

The hospital’s iconic central tower was the last building to be demolished to make way for construction of the DPI’s new three-storey office block and 390-site car park, with construction scheduled to commence early next year.

It is expected the DPI would move its 700 staff from its current Kite Street site to the new building in November 2020.

Operations at Newcrest’s Cadia Valley mine came to a halt in March after a partial wall collapse at one of the mine’s tailings dams.

The March 11 wall collapse came just a few days after Orange residents experienced the second significant earthquake for the year.

Cadia’s gold forecast for the quarter was slashed after safety concerns saw workers kept home – on full pay – until March 27.

A third earthquake on July 23 saw work at the mine suspended for just 12 hours with a Newcrest spokesperson declaring the next day, “processing, everything is back to normal.”

While it may not be the new retail hub Orange has been waiting for, in July the public was let in on plans for the iconic former Myer site in Summer Street.

The original plan for one major retail space, one mini-major site, 15 retail tenancies and two kiosks were replaced with one mini-major site, 20 retail tenancies, six food court shops and five kiosks.

The revised plans would see developers knock down most of the old Myer site and build a new shopping complex on the back of the heritage facade.

Plans first hatched in 2004 for a toilet block in Robertson Park were once again put on hold with Orange City Council insisting in December the idea was not canned.

Businesses once again rejected the proposal planned McNamara Street location for the Robertson Park toilets, however council recommended the design for approval at the start of the month.