A decision on whether to cut down about 500 trees at Bloomfield to make way for Orange's $25 million sports precinct is expected within the next month.
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Orange City Council was told on Tuesday night the Heritage Council of NSW would discuss the issue and decide whether to support the plan at its next meeting on Tuesday, June 1.
Council has submitted a reply to the heritage planning body following a Heritage Council meeting in April.
I have no confidence in heritage planning
- Cr Reg Kidd, Orange mayor
At that meeting the heritage group called for a virtual meeting of relevant stakeholders, noted the number of community objections to the tree removal, suggested changes to the location of sporting facilities and proposed a masterplan be developed for the entire area.
Council has approved an extraordinary meeting be held to decide on the trees' fate once the Heritage Council's decision was made.
That was planned for April 27 but had to be postponed due to the Heritage Council's recommendations.
Council CEO David Waddell said he anticipated the extraordinary meeting could take place 'June 15-June 20' once council received the Heritage Council's findings.
Orange mayor Cr Reg Kidd said this was the latest in a long line of community projects in Orange that had been delayed by the Heritage Council.
"I have no confidence in heritage planning," he said.
"The process has just absolutely been derailed."
He said heritage planning indecision had recently affected UGL, the company that won a 10-year contract for rail logistics and property maintenance in NSW, which has announced it will be based in Orange.
Cr Kidd said the company sought the Heritage Council's views on using the Endsleigh Avenue car park next to the rail yards.
"After 56 days they had not got a reply," he said.
"When they chased it up they got a reply saying 'Oh, sorry, we don't think so.'
"They've got to move ahead fairly quickly. This is a lot of jobs we are talking about coming into Orange."
Cr Kidd said Heritage Council delays had held up other projects including the Orange Hospital, Ronald McDonald House and Duntryleague's plans to install a lift.
He has also proposed a native aboretum be created on the council-owned original site for the sports precinct, off the Northern Distributor Road. It is expected council will receive an initial report on that in June.
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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.
