COUNCILLORS have prioritised shelter for aeromedical patients over family entertainment during two votes which resulted in Orange Show Society missing out on a grant.
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Deputy mayor Sam Romano put forward a motion on Tuesday night to cover the development approval and construction of an awning at the airside access to the Max Hazelton Aero Centre.
Cr Romano said while the project had not been included in the airport's action plan, plans had been engineered to cope with prop and jet wash, with an estimated price tag of $10,000.
"One of the ambulance officers said that patients need to be under cover when waiting to enter the aircraft," he said.
"They're on a stretcher, they're injured and there's no awning."
However, Orange Show Society did not receive the same support.
The society had submitted two funding applications - one for $5000 to cover the cost of horse stable hire and the other for $3000 to cover toilet hire and cleaning.
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The toilet application was submitted first, meaning the stable application was ruled ineligible due to the council's policy of only funding one application per organisation per year.
The donation was set at $850 to cover toilet hire only.
Councillor Joanne McRae moved the council should donate the $5000.
"It's a family-friendly event, it's a time of drought when our farmers and our livestock particularly are doing it tough and for Orange City Council to show them support greater than the hire of toilets I think would be appropriate," she said.
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Mayor Reg Kidd supported her, saying the old stables had been demolished to make way for the Naylor Pavilion but their colleagues were concerned the matter would set a precedent for other organisations.
Meanwhile Orange City Rugby Club received $600 to cover field marking during last month's Orange City Rugby Invitational 10s competition and Orange Aboriginal Medical Service received $1760 for a rainwater tank for its bush garden.
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