Council - 4 Aug 2026 6:00 PM

Topics

• Orange Council cuts thousands from two high residential water and sewerage bills
  Council has approved substantial, property-specific reductions to 2025/2026 water and sewerage charges at 25 Moriarty Crescent and 7–9 Ash Street, including a waiver of post-application interest in one case.
  The decisions show how Council is applying hardship and concealed-leak considerations to unusually high utility bills.
• Orange Council orders evidence-based investigation of short-term rentals
  Council will investigate short-term rental accommodation properties before further community consideration of the issue.
  The future report could shape debate about Airbnb-style accommodation, housing availability, neighbourhood impacts and local tourism.
• Council commits $15,000 to a Charles Sturt University scholarship from 2027
  Orange City Council will sponsor a CSU scholarship worth $15,000 over three years.
  The funding creates a new education opportunity and represents a defined Council commitment beginning in 2027.

Decisions

• Water and sewerage charge reductions for 25 Moriarty Crescent
  Council reduced the 2025/2026 third-quarter water consumption charge from $8,586.26 to $3,455.68 and the fourth-quarter charge from $327.08 to $217.56. Interest charged after a concealed-water-leak application was received was waived.
  Provides hardship-related relief on unusually high water charges for a resident at 25 Moriarty Crescent.
• Water and sewerage charge reductions for 7–9 Ash Street
  Council reduced third-quarter water consumption charges from $5,118.54 to $3,582.98 and sewerage charges from $4,094.72 to $704.93. Fourth-quarter water charges were reduced from $1,696.38 to $1,187.47 and sewerage charges from $1,733.43 to $690.73.
  Reduces substantial residential water and sewerage liabilities at 7–9 Ash Street.
• Investigation into short-term rental accommodation
  Council resolved to investigate and report on short-term rental accommodation properties to support evidence-based community discussion and future consideration.
  May inform future Council action on Airbnb and other short-term rentals, including impacts on housing, neighbours, tourism and local businesses.
• Charles Sturt University scholarship
  Council resolved to sponsor a Charles Sturt University scholarship worth $15,000 over three years commencing in 2027.
  Creates a Council-supported education opportunity valued at $5,000 per year over three years.
• Community Engagement policy adopted; Councillor Expenses policy deferred
  Council adopted Strategic Policy ST20 - Community Engagement. It deferred Strategic Policy ST03 - Councillor Expenses & Provision of Facilities so proposed updates could be incorporated, including matters concerning carer costs, CPI adjustments, technology costs, legal costs and reporting frequency.
  The adopted policy sets Council's approach to community engagement. The expenses policy will return after further changes and is not yet final.
• Submission Redaction report acknowledged
  Council acknowledged the information in the Submission Redaction report. The detailed report was considered confidential because disclosure could prejudice the maintenance of law.
  No further public detail or specific resident action was disclosed in the minutes.

Discussion

• Councillor expenses and facilities
  Council noted a report on councillor expenses and discussed phone, vehicle, printing, event and LG Hub costs. A health-check review of LG Hub servicing and functionality had been sought.
  Provides transparency about elected-member expenses and the administration platform used for related processes.
• Conflict-of-interest management
  Councillors declared interests and withdrew from relevant discussion and voting, including matters concerning short-term rentals, the CSU scholarship and several planning items.
  Shows how potential conflicts were managed during decisions.

Impacts

• Residents affected by concealed leaks or hardship may receive reductions in water and sewerage charges, subject to Council's assessment process.
• Short-term rental accommodation will be investigated, with a future report expected to support community discussion.
• The Community Engagement policy has been adopted and will guide Council's engagement approach.
• A $15,000 CSU scholarship will commence in 2027 over three years.
• The Councillor Expenses & Provision of Facilities policy remains under review and has not yet been adopted.

Places

• 25 Moriarty Crescent, Orange (residential property)
  Subject of concealed-water-leak-related water charge reductions.
• 7–9 Ash Street, Orange (residential property)
  Subject of water and sewerage charge reductions.
• Orange (city/local government area)
  Location of the Council and the affected resident services.
• Civic Centre, Byng Street, Orange (council facility)
  Venue for the meeting.

Next

• Council staff investigate short-term rental accommodation properties and prepare a report.
  Future Council report; no date specified.
• Update Strategic Policy ST03 to address matters raised during the meeting and return it for consideration.
  Future meeting; no date specified.
• Commence the CSU scholarship sponsorship.
  From 2027, over three years.
• Undertake or obtain the requested LG Hub health-check review.
  No date specified.

Extract

MINUTES OF THE ORDINARY MEETING OF COUNCIL HELD IN COUNCIL CHAMBER, CIVIC CENTRE, BYNG STREET, ORANGE ON 4 AUGUST 2026 COMMENCING AT 6.00 PM 1 INTRODUCTION ATTENDANCE Cr T Mileto (Mayor), Cr T Greenhalgh (Deputy Mayor), Cr K Duffy (6.29 PM), Cr G Judge, Cr F Kinghorne (AudioVisual Link), Cr D Mallard, Cr M McDonell, Cr S Peterson, Cr G Power, Cr M Ruddy, Cr J Stedman, Cr J Whitton Chief Executive Officer, Director Corporate & Commercial Services, Director Community, Recreation & Cultural Services, Acting Director Infrastructure (Gailey), Acting Manager Development Assessment (Weir), Senior Planner (Yates), Communications Lead, Manager Corporate Governance, Governance Officer (Maley) 1.1 APO...