The original site planned for Orange's $25 million sports complex might be sold once the new site goes ahead.
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That's the view of Orange mayor Cr Reg Kidd as debate over the sites continues.
Council is planning to build the sports complex, including a main stadium, on the site of the former Orange Country Club golf course at Bloomfield.
It could be sold on for development for whatever.
- Cr Reg Kidd, Orange mayor
It was identified as being more cost effective than the first site proposed for the project, farmland alongside the Northern Distributor Road in north Orange.
Cr Kidd said council bought the north Orange site several years ago as it offered the potential to be big enough with suitable access for a sporting complex.
However, when the Bloomfield site became available he said it became the preferred location.
Cr Kidd said selling the original site was one option open to council.
"There are a few things that can happen," he said.
"It could be sold on for development for whatever."
"It has naturally occurring asbestos in the soil. There's lots of native trees on the site."
Cr Kidd said planning work on the Bloomfield site was progressing.
"It's going through the process, the Environmental Impact Statement has been done."
A development application for the first stage of the work has recently completed a period of public exhibition.
Council voted to change the site of the sports complex in December 2019.
It followed a staff report to council which said the Bloomfield site had a number of benefits.
"Council staff propose that this option, if available, is preferable to the site at the Northern Distributor due to expansion of existing operations, providing economies of scale for the maintenance and operation of sporting facilities, access to existing power and water, [being] adjacent to the Southern Feeder Road and medical precinct and reduced establishment costs."
Councillors approved the change but included a proviso that if the Bloomfield site did not become available the north Orange site would still be appropriate for the sports complex.
The Bloomfield site works require the removal of more than 500 trees which has led to opposition from people keen to see the green precinct retained.
More than 130 people attended a protest picnic on the site last month.
An organiser, Kate Hook, said the sports complex should be built at the first site and Bloomfield become parkland.
"We just want people to imagine alternatives and to envision it as a big open parkland," she said.
The site has had a varied history including being used as an aerodrome.
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