Orange residents will be paying on average $32.35 a year more for council rates while businesses will have to pay $96.96 a year extra in the next financial year.
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The rate rises, capped at two per cent by the state government's Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal, are part of Orange City Council's draft 2021-22 budget which has been approved to go on public exhibition for 28 days.
Council proposes to spend $91.3 million on capital projects in the coming year which is part of a projected four year capital spend of $232.1 million.
The community realises that big projects like the Southern Feeder [Road], our CBD upgrade and a major new wetland will take a number of years to deliver.
- Cr Reg Kidd, Orange mayor
The budget proposes a consolidated operating deficit (before capital) of $666,834 for 2021/22.
Big ticket items include $5 million on the Future City CBD upgrade, $7 million to upgrade the capacity of the sewage water treatment plant and $1.4 million to upgrade the East Orange stormwater channels.
There are also two projects to boost pipe infrastructure between Orange and Lake Canobolas costing $1.3 million for a sewer upgrade, and $1.02 million for a new water pipeline.
Work will also start on the $20 million Orange Regional Conservatorium and Planetarium project which is still $5 million short of being fully funded.
Projects proposed by councillors include: $500,000 to replace trees that died during the drought with advanced tree stock, $200,000 for toilets and improvements at Banjo Paterson Park, $250,000 for maintenance on the Robertson Park and Cook Park rotundas, $10,000 on an International Women's Day event, $15,000 for a new program to encourage residents to plant gardens on their nature strips, $100,000 to build a new picket fence around a sportsground at Spring Hill, $50,000 to install lighting and CCTV in Esso Park, $100,000 to install CCTV, new fences and headstone repairs at the Orange cemetery and $150,000 for footpath upgrades.
Orange mayor Cr Reg Kidd said some projects would take several years funding to complete.
"The community realises that big projects like the Southern Feeder [Road], our CBD upgrade and a major new wetland will take a number of years to deliver," he said.
Council is expected to review public submissions and finalise the budget at its meeting on June 1.
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David Fitzsimons
I am a senior journalist at the Central Western Daily concentrating on council, government and real estate issues. Before moving to Orange I filled senior roles at the Daily Telegraph, Daily Telegraph-Mirror and the Daily Mirror in Sydney. They included being an editor, news editor, chief of staff and reporter.
I am a senior journalist at the Central Western Daily concentrating on council, government and real estate issues. Before moving to Orange I filled senior roles at the Daily Telegraph, Daily Telegraph-Mirror and the Daily Mirror in Sydney. They included being an editor, news editor, chief of staff and reporter.
