Environmental Sustainability Policy Committee - 3 Mar 2026 6:00 PM

Topics

• Council moves to standardise off-leash dog areas and require them in major subdivisions
  Policy change affects where dog exercise areas must be provided and what facilities they need.
  Residents and developers may need to adjust to new standards for dog parks and subdivision planning.
• Desexing program funded for eligible Orange residents
  Council will direct its full 2025/2026 committee budget to a staff-led dog and cat desexing program for concession card holders.
  Could lower pet ownership costs and improve animal welfare for eligible households.

Decisions

• Adopted companion animal committee minutes and reports
  Council acknowledged the reports and adopted the minutes from the Parks, Trees & Waterways Community Committee meeting of 18 December 2025, and adopted the remainder of the Companion Animal Community Committee minutes from 5 February 2026.
  Confirms the committee decisions that will shape local animal management and related services.
• Off-leash dog exercise areas to be standardised
  Council resolved to use the official term 'Off-Leash Dog Exercise Area' in all materials, update website and brochure maps, develop standards for these areas, and require off-leash dog exercise areas in all major subdivisions. Standards are to cover naming, signage, fencing, safe access, shade, seating, waste facilities and vegetation maintenance.
  Affects where residents can exercise dogs and what facilities and safety features must be provided.
• Dog and cat desexing program to be expanded
  Council will support a staff-led dog and cat desexing program, allocate the full 2025/2026 committee budget to it, roll over unspent funds to the next financial year, and limit eligibility to Orange LGA residents holding a valid pension or concession card.
  Could reduce desexing costs for eligible pet owners and support animal welfare in the community.

Discussion

• Policy amendments
  Several editorial changes were made to the draft policy, including new objectives on financial and facility capacity, a terminology correction in the feral companion animal definition, a cross-reference fix, and a punctuation change.
  These are technical updates to improve clarity and accuracy in the policy.
• Off-leash dog area mapping
  Council will update website and brochure maps for off-leash dog exercise areas to improve accuracy.
  Helps residents find dog exercise locations and reduces confusion about approved areas.
• Community dog desexing pilot
  A draft Community Dog Desexing Pilot was acknowledged and Council will investigate how it can support the program.
  May lead to a new animal welfare support service for low-income residents.

Impacts

• More consistent standards for off-leash dog exercise areas across Orange.
• Potential new or improved dog exercise areas in major subdivisions.
• Updated maps and public information about dog exercise locations.
• Possible subsidised desexing support for eligible pensioners and concession card holders.
• Potential rollover of unspent desexing funds to keep the program running beyond this financial year.

Places

• Orange LGA (local government area)
  Eligibility for the desexing program is limited to residents of Orange LGA.
• Orange (town)
  Policy and service changes apply across local companion animal facilities and services.

Next

• Update official maps and public-facing materials to use 'Off-Leash Dog Exercise Area'.
  As soon as practicable
• Develop standards for off-leash dog exercise areas, including facilities and maintenance requirements.
  Future policy work
• Investigate Council support for the Community Dog Desexing Pilot.
  Following the meeting
• Implement the staff-led dog and cat desexing program and manage budget rollover if funds remain unspent.
  2025/2026 financial year and into the next year

Extract

MINUTES OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY POLICY COMMITTEE HELD IN COUNCIL CHAMBER, CIVIC CENTRE, BYNG STREET, ORANGE ON 3 MARCH 2026 COMMENCING AT 6:49PM 1 INTRODUCTION ATTENDANCE Cr D Mallard (Chairperson), Cr T Mileto (Mayor), Cr T Greenhalgh (Deputy Mayor), Cr K Duffy, Cr G Judge, Cr F Kinghorne, 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, Acting Director Community, Recreation & Cultural Services (Stanford), Acting Director Technical Services (Theakstone), Chief Financial Officer, Manager Corporate Governance, Governance Officer (Robinson) 1.1 APOLOGIES AND LEAVE OF ABSENCE Nil. 1.2...