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facility · 1 meeting

Orange Regional Planetarium

3 decisions2 topicsUpdated 7 July 2026

Mentions

  • Council facility and proposed visitor attraction
  • This advances the Planetarium toward opening and gives residents an opportunity to comment on proposed ticket prices.
  • The decision commits nearly $2 million in additional capital funding to the sports precinct.
  • The official names establish how the new and upgraded cultural facilities will be publicly identified.
  • Residents will be affected by the facility’s opening hours, staffing and access arrangements.
  • The decision clarifies that the attraction is intended to provide educational and interactive experiences, not only movie screenings.

Decisions

Planetarium operation and proposed fees endorsed

Council endorsed operation of the Planetarium and resolved to publicly exhibit proposed admission fees and charges for at least 28 days.

This advances the Planetarium toward opening and gives residents an opportunity to comment on proposed ticket prices.

Further $1.97 million approved for sports-precinct lighting

Council authorised a further contract with Zauner Constructions for the remaining Orange Sports Precinct field-lighting works, for $1,971,217.93, and required provision in the 2026–27 capital budget quarterly review.

The decision commits nearly $2 million in additional capital funding to the sports precinct.

Cultural facilities given official names

Council named the Conservatorium building the Orange Regional Conservatorium, its recital hall the Mary Turner Recital Hall and the Planetarium the Orange Regional Planetarium.

The official names establish how the new and upgraded cultural facilities will be publicly identified.

Topics

Planetarium operations and opening hours

The proposed Planetarium operating model includes a full-time coordinator and two part-time staff. Mondays may initially be closed for maintenance, cleaning, repairs and training, with operating hours to be reviewed after 12 months.

Residents will be affected by the facility’s opening hours, staffing and access arrangements.

Planetarium equipment and programming

The Planetarium system is being tendered as a full planetarium system with astronomy, science and educational programming projected onto an 11-metre dome.

The decision clarifies that the attraction is intended to provide educational and interactive experiences, not only movie screenings.

Meetings

Council - 7 Jul 2026 6:00 PM

Orange City Council advanced the Planetarium with proposed public ticket fees, approved a further $1.97 million for sports-precinct lighting, opened cultural policies to public comment, approved a Scouts lease and deferred an Astill Drive property decision.