Front-in parking stalled as council shows new-look Orange streets

It was proposed late last year under the multi-million dollar Future City revamp of the Orange CBD.

However, mayor Cr Reg Kidd, said the plans had changed.

"At this stage that's off the agenda. There was quite a bit of feedback on that," he said.

"I was very ambivalent about nose-in parking."

Cr Kidd said council had sought to be "as open as possible" by encouraging public comment on the Future City plans.

In this case, and the planned lopping of trees to make way for a mini-mall in Anson Street, the public outcry has been heard.

The parking change was revealed in images on the council website this week detailing how Byng Street might look under Future City.

It showed cars parked rear-to-kerb, whereas an image in the original plan last year showed cars parked nose-in.

Council has put plans and images for Byng and McNamara streets and part of Lords Place on public exhibition for comment until Sunday February 28.

McNamara Street will receive 20 new trees, murals at seven locations, the city's first two pop-up stores in shipping containers, seating and lighting similar to Summer Street.

Cr Kidd said currently there were no trees in the block.

"The new plantings will show what can be done in future in other parts of Orange. We're looking at two different species: a tall column-shaped tree along the eastern side and a wide canopy tree on the western side. We're also going to be using underground cell structures which let the trees grow but are designed to stop the trees' roots damaging the roads and footpaths," he said.

It is planned to have wide median strips on Byng Street and Lords Place around Robertson Park.

"A key element of the plans for these areas is the change from two lanes of traffic in either direction in some sections of the road, to one lane of traffic each way. This lets someone on foot cross the road safely, and lets the passing traffic flow," he said.

"The current narrow medians will be replaced with strips in the centre of the roadway that are two and half metres wide. In Lords Place the strip will be planted with 14 advanced new trees."

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