Orange City Council this week voted to allow the markets to return to public land, the Naylor Pavilion at the Orange Showground, following the easing of coronavirus restrictions.

Council agreed to change a previous decision banning the markets from public land after market manager Holly Manning spoke to them during council's Open Forum segment on Tuesday night.

She said the markets' committee had successfully operated two "shop and go" markets at smaller private venues in the past two months which demonstrated the markets could be run at the larger, public venue.

"This isn't a social event. It is an opportunity to pick up pre-ordered produce and purchase essential local fresh produce," she said.

Mrs Manning said social distancing measures would be in place at the next markets, particularly with tourists now being allowed into Orange.

"We need to provide activities that well controlled with measurements in place that will also boost economic growth," she said.

There was concern by some councillors they were making the decision without following protocol.

However, others argued that in difficult times caused by the coronavirus, this decision had to be made.