Cr Nugent won't be standing for re-election when Orange goes to the polls on December 4 and admits tomorrow's motion, one of two he will put forward, is a 'legacy issue' for him.

"It's something I feel very strongly about," he said. "I think I've been pretty consistent supporting social and affordable housing developments across Orange when they've come up to council for consideration, even though some of them have been quite contentious.

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"The last couple of years with COVID-19 has exacerbated things to some extent in terms of housing prices going up and up and rentals going up in parallel. I think the last couple of years the issue has really become a lot more serious.

"So I guess yes, I would like to put this firmly on the a agenda for the new council to take on board as one of the first and more urgent issues that they might work on."

Cr Nugent's motion calls for council to 'opt into the State Environmental Planning Policy No. 70 - Affordable Housing (Revised Schemes) and develops an Affordable Housing Contribution Scheme to help address the critical shortage of social and affordable housing in the city'.

In February 2019 SEPP 70 was amended to enable all councils in NSW to levy contributions for affordable housing. The amendment removed the administrative step of entering a local government area into SEPP 70, thereby expediting councils' ability to investigate and develop an affordable housing contributions scheme.

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The next step in the process is for councils to prepare affordable housing contribution schemes and amend their local environmental plans to reference the schemes. It is optional for a council to develop an affordable housing contribution scheme.

In his background to the motion, Cr Nugent pointed to Orange's tightening real estate market.

A report presented to the September 15 council meeting this year showed a 10 per cent increase in the median purchase price and the median rental price in the first half of 2021. At the same time, it showed an 18 per cent reduction in properties on the market and a 35 per cent reduction in properties advertised for rent.

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Cr Nugent, who also sits on the boards of two mental health organisations, said mental health outcomes were also being influenced by a lack of cheap housing.

Council's Draft Housing Strategy is also up for mention on Tuesday night but Mr Nugent said it was a long-term planning document.

"It doesn't really have any immediate solutions to try and address the problem.

"So I have put this up to get the discussion happening, to highlight the importance and the urgency of the issue and to get council and hopefully the wider community to think about what we can do to address the issue."

Cr Nugent's other motion up for discussion on Tuesday night is asking for Council to liaise with locals schools to become involved in the Solar My School initiative.

Cr Sam Romano will also put forward a motion requesting council staff investigate stocking storm-water harvesting wetlands with appropriate fish species, including trout, silver perch and golden perch, in line with regulations. Council's draft Local Housing strategy is also expected to be approved to go on display.

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