Once the ground at Bloomfield is dry enough machinery and workers will be on site to start chopping down 250 trees for Orange's $25 million sports precinct.
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Orange City Council's meeting this week was told the work could start within the next few weeks.
Staff told the meeting the winning tenderer was from the Blue Mountains and had the necessary approvals to be able to work in Orange.
However, following ongoing rain through winter the ground at the former golf course site at Bloomfield is too wet for the equipment.
Staff are now waiting for the contractor to inspect the site to decide when work can start.
The Heritage Council of NSW has just approved the culling of the trees as the first stage of works for a stadium on the Forest Road side of the site and an athletics field on the Huntley Road side.
Cr Stephen Nugent asked whether the tree culling could wait until full approval for all the work on the site, including fields between the two main arenas, had been obtained.
However mayor Cr Reg Kidd said with community consultation and debate completed the work needed to get started.
"No more stonewalling," he said.
Cr Tony Mileto said the culled trees would create 6000-8000 cubic metres of mulch.
The trunks will be recycled into desktops and laminates while the branches will be chipped to provide mulch and compost onsite and for other Orange council areas.
"It's great to see those pine trees are being harvested and put to good use also," Cr Mileto said.
Cr Kevin Duffy said the community wanted the work to start.
"Let's proceed with speed and get it done," he said.
"I can't walk across a supermarket without someone accosting me saying 'why haven't you started knocking the trees down.' It's what everyone's saying, 'we want it to happen."
Cr Jason Hamling said he was being asked the same question.
"I have had people come to me asking 'what is going on,' he said.
"We've had the debate, it was a 10-1 loss so let's get on with it and start building it as soon as possible," he said.
Council was also told a masterplan for the whole site, as requested by Heritage NSW, was due to be lodged by council within days as part of the approval process.
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