Orange will be seeing stars of all kinds with the music conservatorium and planetarium complex planned for Northcourt ticking off another stage this week.
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Orange City Council agreed to send a glowing report on the complex to the Western Region Planning Panel, which will determine the project's approval.
Mayor Reg Kidd said council had obtained $15 million toward the $20 million cost of the project and was working on seeking the missing cash from the state government.
While the conservatorium with 40 practice rooms, a 250-seat recital hall and the dome-shaped 70-seat planetarium will take up a lot of parkland and necessitate 41 trees being knocked down, the buildings will be covered in living gardens.
Council was told there was still room on the site for markets to be held.
The building will be operational from 9am-midnight seven days a week with peak times expected to be after school hours for the conservatorium, 6pm-midnight for the recital hall and during school hours for the planetarium.
Cr Stephen Nugent said he was concerned there was a shortage of parking in the area.
"It has been raised with me about parents going to Storytime at the library and all the two hour spots [are taken] and they can't park and they have to park out on the street with young children," he said.
While 56 car parks would be required under planning rules only five have been allocated in the plan.
However CEO David Waddell said a new carpark would be constructed on council-owned land on the opposite side of Peisley Street.
"The budget included the upgrade of the old Williams shed site this financial year. Without the recent rain we'd be onto that project," he said.
"The DA requires the CEO to sign that parking to the conservatorium. After that the plan is to rejig the [council] carpark so we've got plenty of one hour and two-hour parking for people visiting the cafe, the library etc."
Cr Kevin Duffy said bus parking on the northern side of the site would suit students being brought to the complex.
The DA will be determined by the WRPP as the council-sponsored project exceeds a capital investment value of $5 million.
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