Plans to turn the first site proposed for Orange's $25 million sports precinct into parklands and a native tree regeneration zone are set to be supported.
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Orange mayor Cr Reg Kidd proposed in April that the council-owned site on the Northern Distributor Road could become a park after council switched its sports precinct site preference to Bloomfield.
On Tuesday night Orange City Council will consider a council report which recommends backing the plan, evaluating its cost and seeking funding.
The development of this concept can occur without limiting the potential for future sporting facilities
- Report to Orange council
It says council should resolve to develop the plan and obtain detailed costings for establishing a native regeneration zone with walking and cycling trails on the eastern portion of the land.
It also suggests council apply for money under the government's Emissions Reduction Fund.
"The site is 44.4 hectares or 110 acres in size and consists of undulating land with a creek line in the centre," it said. "The land form is approximately 50 per cent relatively flat land and 50 per cent sloped land.
"Concept designs developed for a sporting precinct in 2019 identified that the sloped section to the eastern side of the site was difficult to develop into sporting fields due to the topography and the resultant extent of earth works required and significant environmental impact.
"This area was flagged as a location for an unstructured native regeneration zone together with walking and cycling tracks."
The report also said more sporting facilities were needed and the plan would not restrict council from using the rest of the site in the future.
"The development of this concept can occur without limiting the potential for future sporting facilities on the remainder of the lot," it said.
"The latest available ABS statistics released show Orange's population to be comprised of 28 per cent of people aged 19 years and younger and 60.5 per cent of people aged 44 years and younger.
"Council conducted a sports needs analysis in 2018 which showed that many facilities were at capacity due to both population growth and the increase in female participation in what were once traditionally male dominated sports (soccer, football codes and cricket)."
It said population data suggested Orange would see 2800 more children and 6000 more people under 44 living in Orange in the next decade.
"The new sports precinct will address the current need however with population growth expected to increase over the next decade there will be future demand for additional facilities."
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