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Orange City Council

Planning & Development Policy Committee - 6 Oct 2026 6:00 PM

Orange Council approved several development applications, endorsed a planning proposal with amendments, and began updating its community engagement arrangements following the new Statewide Community Participation Plan.

6 October 2026Planning & Development Policy CommitteeSummary available
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Articles

planning 84 Byng Street food premises approved without parking charge for five spaces planning For-profit community events included in Orange planning proposal endorsed by committee infrastructure Orange parking reserve holds $465,000 while council investigates nearly $1m in past withdrawals planning Place of worship approved at 8 Connemara Drive after weekend construction-hours dispute planning 75 Kite Street medical centre approved with parking charge excluded planning 145 Lords Place office approval drops parking contribution condition

Related

Issue Roads, traffic and parking Issue Funding and grants Issue Planning, development and housing Area 20 Daydawn Place Area 145 Lords Place Area 8 Connemara Drive Area 75 Kite Street Area 84 Byng Street Area Williams carpark, Peisley Street Project Orange Community Engagement Strategy

Topics

  • Orange approves five development projects while parking contributions remain contested
    A cluster of approvals allows a place of worship, medical centre, residential works, food premises and offices to proceed, with parking charges excluded from three decisions.
    The decisions affect nearby residents, construction activity and development costs across several Orange sites.
  • Council to review construction hours for Connemara Drive worship site against EPA guidance
    Councillors questioned weekend construction hours before approving the project, prompting a review of conditions against newly released EPA guidelines.
    Nearby residents could be affected by construction timing, noise and safety conditions.
  • Orange parking reserve sits at about $465,000 as councillors seek answers on past spending
    Council disclosed the current parking-contribution reserve balance while investigating how nearly $1 million spent in 2016 and a further $12,000 the following year were used.
    The reserve is funded through development contributions and is intended to support parking provision, making its use relevant to ratepayers and developers.

Decisions

  • Place of public worship approved at 8 Connemara Drive
    Development application DA 152/2026(1) was approved subject to the Notice of Approval conditions, with those conditions to be reviewed against NSW EPA guidelines and updated by the Chief Executive Officer if necessary. A proposed deferral for review of construction times, safety risks and neighbour consultation was defeated.
    The approval allows the proposed place of public worship to proceed, while construction-condition changes may follow an EPA-guideline review.
  • Medical centre approved at 75 Kite Street
    Council confirmed DA 194/2026(1) for a medical centre involving a change of use and building alterations, excluding the parking contribution condition. Staff advised that the parking contribution plan does not provide for waiving or reducing the charge; a different payment schedule could be considered.
    The site can be used as a medical centre, and the decision removes the specified parking contribution requirement from the approval.
  • Residential development approved at 20 Daydawn Place
    Council approved DA 228/2026(1) for a dwelling and attached garage, inground swimming pool and fencing, change of use from dwelling to secondary dwelling, and a shed, subject to consent conditions.
    The approval permits the specified residential works and secondary-dwelling arrangement at the site.
  • Food and drink premises approved at 84 Byng Street
    Council approved DA 216/2026(1) for demolition, alterations and additions to food and drink premises, and one business identification sign. Parking Contributions condition 18 was excluded. An amendment to apply contributions to five new parking spaces was defeated.
    The decision supports changes to the Byng Street food and drink premises without applying the specified parking contribution condition.
  • Office premises approved at 145 Lords Place
    Council approved DA 245/2026(1) for a change of use, building alterations and additions, and business identification signage, excluding the parking contributions condition.
    The approval allows the site to operate as office premises without the specified parking contribution condition.
  • Planning proposal endorsed with amendments
    Council endorsed the exhibited Planning Proposal and authorised the Chief Executive Officer to make the plan under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979. Amendments include removing Zone R1 from Clause 4.1AA, broadly interpreting community events to include for-profit events, and asking the Department to draft the Local Environmental Plan amendments.
    The amendments will affect how the relevant planning controls and community-event provisions are interpreted once the plan is made.
  • Community participation arrangements to be updated
    Council noted that the Statewide Community Participation Plan commenced on 1 September 2026, began an amendment to the Orange Community Engagement Strategy, and resolved to continue applying non-redundant provisions of the Orange Community Participation Plan until the amended arrangements are adopted.
    Future planning and development consultation will be governed by a revised combination of statewide and Orange-specific engagement rules.

Discussion

  • Parking contributions and CBD parking funds
    Discussion covered the Orange Car Parking Development Contribution Plan, including the inability to waive or reduce charges under the current plan, possible payment schedules, and the history of the parking reserve. Council was advised that the reserve was about $1 million in 2016/17, approximately $430,000 had since been collected, and the current balance was about $465,000. Staff were investigating earlier expenditure, and no funds had been used for repairs or maintenance in the previous eight years or for additional parking in the previous five years.
    The issue affects development costs, the supply of CBD parking and how parking contributions are managed for ratepayers.
  • Construction hours and EPA guidance
    Councillors questioned construction times at 8 Connemara Drive because the conditions included Saturday and Sunday work. Staff said Council would review its standard conditions against recently released NSW EPA guidelines.
    The review could affect construction hours and noise impacts for nearby residents.
  • Planning controls for community events
    The endorsed planning proposal directs that community events be interpreted broadly to include for-profit community events and removes Zone R1 from Clause 4.1AA.
    Event organisers, nearby residents and landowners may be affected by the revised planning interpretation and controls.

Impacts

  • Approved development can proceed at 8 Connemara Drive, 75 Kite Street, 20 Daydawn Place, 84 Byng Street and 145 Lords Place, subject to consent conditions.
  • Construction-condition requirements for 8 Connemara Drive may be revised after review against NSW EPA guidelines.
  • Parking contribution conditions were excluded from approvals at 75 Kite Street, 84 Byng Street and 145 Lords Place.
  • Council is revising its community engagement arrangements for planning matters following the commencement of the Statewide Community Participation Plan.

Places

  • Orange (city/local government area)
    Location of the committee and all identified development and planning decisions.
  • 8 Connemara Drive (property/road)
    Approved place of public worship, DA 152/2026(1).
  • 75 Kite Street (property/road)
    Approved medical centre, DA 194/2026(1).
  • 20 Daydawn Place (property/road)
    Approved dwelling, secondary dwelling, pool and shed works, DA 228/2026(1).
  • 84 Byng Street (property/road)
    Approved food and drink premises alterations and signage, DA 216/2026(1).
  • 145 Lords Place (property/road)
    Approved office premises change of use and alterations, DA 245/2026(1).
  • CBD (commercial area)
    Area discussed in relation to parking contributions and additional parking supply.
  • Williams carpark, Peisley Street (car park/road)
    Raised in discussion about future parking use and sealing, with no recorded decision.

Next

  • Review construction conditions for DA 152/2026(1) against NSW EPA guidelines and update them if necessary.
    After the 6 October 2026 approval; exact timing not specified.
  • Chief Executive Officer to formally make the endorsed planning proposal and arrange drafting of Local Environmental Plan amendments with the Department.
    Following the 6 October 2026 endorsement; exact timing not specified.
  • Amend the Orange Community Engagement Strategy and retain non-redundant Orange Community Participation Plan provisions until the amended plan is adopted.
    Process to commence following the meeting; interim arrangements apply until adoption.
  • Investigate historical expenditure from the car parking contribution reserve.
    Ongoing at the meeting date; no completion date specified.

Extract

MINUTES OF THE PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE HELD IN COUNCIL CHAMBER, CIVIC CENTRE, BYNG STREET, ORANGE ON 6 OCTOBER 2026 COMMENCING AT 6:36 PM 1 INTRODUCTION ATTENDANCE Cr M McDonell (Chairperson), Cr T Mileto (Mayor), Cr J Stedman (Deputy Mayor), Cr K Duffy (AV Link), Cr T Greenhalgh, Cr G Judge (7.59pm) (AV Link), Cr F Kinghorne, Cr D Mallard, Cr G Power, Cr M Ruddy, Cr J Whitton Chief Executive Officer, Director Corporate & Commercial Services, Interim Director Development Services, Director Community, Recreation & Cultural Services, Acting Director Infrastructure (Gailey), Manager Corporate Governance, Manager Communications & Engagement, Manager Engineering Services, Manager Develo...