Council supported a move by Cr Tony Mileto to give residents information, and the opportunity to ask questions, on 'significant projects and initiatives' put on public exhibition.

Council staff will prepare a report on deciding which development applications and plans should be applicable for the forums.

Cr Mileto has proposed two sessions in one day to allow people to attend at either lunchtime or after work at about 5.30pm.

The plans follow well-attended public meetings on water usage during the drought this year and on affordable housing plans last year in the Civic Theatre foyer.

The sessions would occur early in the exhibition time.

Money normally spent on catering for food and drink after council meetings will be donated to several charities in Orange.

Cr Jason Hamling said the money from the previous four meetings, where catering was not provided, should be donated.

Cr Glenn Taylor said there had been no catering since March when COVID-19 stopped council meetings in person.

Charities likely to benefit include Food Bank, Vinnies Van and Cafe, Anglicare Emergency Food Relief, Orange Senior Citizens and Let's Make Better.

Cr Joanne McRae asked for the amount spent on the meals to be provided but CEO David Waddell declined saying it was a competitive commercial subject.

Council also backed plans for a $374,000 underpass for horses and riders proposed to go below a future stage of the Southern Feeder Road as part of the Towac Equine Precinct subdivision.

The costs would be recouped in payments by three local landowners when their land was subdivided.

Cr Kevin Duffy opposed the plan saying Orange would be the only place in NSW to have one. "I think it is extreme overkill having an underpass. It doesn't make sense," he said.

Cr Jeff Whitton said it was a safety issue. "We are going to have children with horses riding and they will need to get across the road to Towac Park and back again. It's just common sense," he said.