WITH governments expected to be cash-strapped due to the combined effects of drought, bushfires and coronavirus, two councillors believe the solution may lie within Orange City Council's capabilities.
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The council's draft budget, to be reconsidered on May 12, contains a provision to borrow $1 million to cover the shortfall in the Orange Regional Gallery expansion project - the state government awarded $4 million towards the project but councillors rejected all tenders earlier this year when the quotes were too high.
Another $1.5 million is expected to be loaned for the Southern Feeder Road and $5 million for the Future City CBD upgrade each in 2020-2021 and 2021-22.
Infrastructure policy committee chairman and fellow councillor Jeff Whitton said loans might end up filling gaps left by government programs.
"We need to ask the question [will] the money from the federal and state authorities still be there?" he said.
"They've had the bushfires and now they've got coronavirus and they're handing out money to help."
Cr Whitton said there was no suggestion already-pledged funds would not be delivered.
"But if we do have to borrow money, will the community still support [those projects]?" he said.
Mayor Reg Kidd said land sales could be an option to fund shortfalls for the Orange Regional Conservatorium rebuild.
"We've got $10 million from the feds and if we sell the old building, $8 million is probably what it's worth so we're $5 million short," he said.
"To pull out the other $5 million might take a couple of years so we could thing about selling off land we don't need - if we can't do it until we've got the $20 million, it might end up costing $25 million," he said.
The draft budget was deferred last week for further examination.
It has already flagged selling the old Saleyards site, Clergate Road industrial blocks, the cleared lot at 1 Summer Street and the remainder of old hospital site.
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