With only Cr Stephen Nugent opposing the tree's removal it was passed after other councillors argued the 25-metre tall healthy tree posted a safety and an insurance liability risk.

Earlier in the night the owner of the property on which the tree is sited, Dianne Gee, told the meeting the tree was damaging the site's heritage building and had dropped large limbs.

A motion to rescind council approval for a child care centre in Turner Crescent was deferred by the council.

During the public forum the meeting was told by a local resident that he had been in discussion with Regional Roads and Transport minister Paul Toole about the project.

The resident said they had discussed the possibility of access to the property being obtainable from Molong Road rather than only from Turner Crescent.

Council agreed to defer the discussions until Mr Toole was contacted to make his position clear.

The time limit on car parking at the Orange Central Square car park will be extended from two hours to three hours after council voted to support it.

The shopping centre management had approached council seeking the extension to fall in line with the Orange City Centre car park which already has a three hour limit.

Council parking officers will continue to patrol the car park.

A council report to the meeting said it was likely to reduce parking fines by motorists by $40,000.

In a move described by one councillor as "historic" the council has finally approved a toilet block for Robertson Park.

The $300,000 facility to be built near Byng Street and the CWA Hall is a small building with one male, one female and one accessible toilet.

Work is not expected to start on the facility until next year.

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