This idea is one of many options on the table as we discuss the upgrade of the CBD. It’s happening as part of Orange city Council’s FutureCity strategy, and it’s all about engaging with the community and listening to new ideas for the future.

The idea of a plaza in the McNamara Street car park came to light during the ‘Where to Next?’ community conversations last year as part of the Community Strategic Plan.

It’s one of many suggestions. We have received other ideas including new malls in Lords Place and/or Anson Street, and new multi-storey car parks near Woolworths, Ophir car park and near the Civic Centre.

I have no idea where the suggestion came from that council was thinking about completely closing the McNamara Street car park.

This was never an idea put forward by the community or being considered by council.

MAP: Where is the location of the proposed plaza …

What make much more sense to me is the idea of using bollards to close the car park on weekends for markets and deliver free, family-focused public entertainment like musicians, artists and so forth.

The suggestion that the council is closing the car park is just nonsense. As chair of the council’s Economic Development Committee which is running FutureCity, I can guarantee we’re working hard to deliver more parking over time – not less.

We’ve hired a team of urban designers who have a lot of professional experience and who will bring fresh perspectives to come up with great ideas.

While we’re waiting for that plan, what we’ll all need to accept is that the city of Orange must change as online shopping grows and transport connections make shopping elsewhere easier.

If we shoot down every new idea that comes up, then nothing will change and members of the community will stop contributing their ideas.

I’m inviting anyone who has ideas for our city to get involved in the community reference group so their ideas can be looked at part of the FutureCity designs.