Rates & spending · Orange City Council
Planetarium supplier named in Orange council’s US$477,184 equipment contract
Council accepted Evans and Sutherland Computer Corporation’s tender to supply and install audiovisual and sound equipment for prerecorded shows, with the minutes recording an Australian equivalent of $692,833.84 excluding GST.
Reporting from public council minutes. How this article was prepared
Orange City Council has accepted Evans and Sutherland Computer Corporation’s tender for audiovisual and sound equipment at the Orange Regional Planetarium, with an authorised contract value of US$477,184.
The minutes record that amount as equivalent to $692,833.84 in Australian currency, excluding GST, at the time of reporting. The figure is an exchange-rate-based equivalent recorded in the resolution, rather than a separate fixed Australian-dollar contract value.
The equipment is required to display prerecorded shows. Council authorised its chief executive officer to enter into the contract and approved the use of the common seal on the associated documents.
The cost is to be included in the 2026/2027 Capital Plan, with provision for internal reimbursement of the capital cost from Planetarium operations. The resolution does not give a delivery or installation date, and does not establish that the contract had been executed or that equipment had been delivered by 1 September.
Once the contract is executed, information about the successful tender is to be published in Council’s Register of Contracts. Unsuccessful tenderers are also to be notified of the outcome.
The resolution was made in closed session and read out after the meeting resumed. The minutes record 10 councillors in favour and none against. Cr J Whitton and Cr G Judge were recorded as absent.
What deserves a closer look
The resolution authorises the chief executive officer to enter into a contract and makes Register of Contracts publication conditional on execution. The minutes therefore do not establish that the contract had been signed by the meeting date.
The recorded Australian-dollar figure is expressly described as the amount at the reporting time, so it should not be presented as a separate fixed Australian contract price.
Questions for follow-up reporting
Has the contract been executed, and what Australian-dollar value, if any, is recorded in the executed contract or Register of Contracts?
When are the Planetarium equipment supply and installation expected to occur?
What arrangements will be used to recover the capital cost from Planetarium operations?
What happens next
The chief executive officer is authorised to enter into the contract with Evans and Sutherland Computer Corporation.
After contract execution, information about the successful tender is to be published in Council's Register of Contracts.
The cost is to be included in the 2026/2027 Capital Plan.
Unsuccessful tenderers are to be notified of the tender outcome.
Check the record
These passages were matched to the source text. Read them in context in the original minutes.
Council accepted Evans and Sutherland Computer Corporation's tender for the supply and installation of audiovisual and sound equipment required to display prerecorded shows at the Orange Regional Planetarium.
6.1 TENDER FOR F499-22 PLANETARIUM - AUDIO VISUAL SUPPLY AND INSTALLATION TRIM REFERENCE: 2026/1547 RESOLVED - 26/499 Cr D Mallard/Cr K Duffy That Council resolves: 1 In accordance with Section 55 of the NSW Local Government Act 1993 to accept the tender RFT-F499-22 from Evans and Sutherland Computer Corporation for the supply and installation of audio visual and sound equipment required to display pre filmed shows at the Orange Regional Planetarium.
Resolution 26/499, item 6.1, clause 1
Open original minutes ↗The stated lump-sum contract value is US$477,184, recorded as A$692,833.84 excluding GST at the reporting time.
2 That the Chief Executive Officer be authorised to enter into a contract with Evans and Sutherland Computer Corporation for a lump sum value of $477,184.00 USD which at the reporting time is $692,833.84 AUD ex GST.
Resolution 26/499, item 6.1, clause 2
Open original minutes ↗The Planetarium tender resolution was made in closed session and read out by the chief executive officer after the ordinary meeting resumed.
The Mayor declared the Ordinary Meeting of Council resumed at 10.24pm. ORDINARY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES 1 SEPTEMBER 2026 Page 8 7 RESOLUTIONS FROM CLOSED MEETING The Chief Executive Officer read out the following resolutions made in the Closed Meeting of Council. 6.1 TENDER FOR F499-22 PLANETARIUM - AUDIO VISUAL SUPPLY AND INSTALLATION TRIM REFERENCE: 2026/1547 RESOLVED - 26/499 Cr D Mallard/Cr K Duffy That Council resolves: 1 In accordance with Section 55 of the NSW Local Government Act 1993 to accept the tender RFT-F499-22 from Evans and Sutherland Computer Corporation for the supply and installation of audio visual and sound equipment required to display pre filmed shows at the Orange Regional Planetarium.
Resolutions from closed meeting, item 6.1
Open original minutes ↗The minutes list 10 councillors in favour, none against, with Cr J Whitton and Cr G Judge absent.
For: Cr T Mileto (Mayor), Cr T Greenhalgh (Deputy Mayor), Cr K Duffy, Cr F Kinghorne, Cr D Mallard, Cr M McDonell, Cr S Peterson, Cr G Power, Cr M Ruddy, Cr J Stedman Against: Nil Absent: Cr J Whitton, Cr G Judge 6.2 SUBMISSION REDACTION REPORT 1 SEPTEMBER 2026 TRIM REFERENCE: 2026/356 RESOLVED - 26/500 Cr K Duffy/Cr D Mallard That the information in the Submission Redaction report be acknowledged.
Resolution 26/499 vote, before item 6.2
Open original minutes ↗Source record
Reporting from the public minutes of Orange City Council’s ordinary meeting on 1 September 2026.
Key facts from the minutes
- Council resolution 26/499 accepted RFT-F499-22 from Evans and Sutherland Computer Corporation for Planetarium audiovisual and sound equipment.
- The authorised contract value is US$477,184, recorded as $692,833.84 excluding GST at the reporting time.
- The equipment is intended to display prerecorded shows at the Orange Regional Planetarium.
- The cost is to be included in the 2026/2027 Capital Plan, with internal reimbursement from Planetarium operations provided for.
- The recorded vote was 10 for, none against, with two councillors absent.
Why it matters
- The resolution identifies the supplier and authorises a substantial Planetarium equipment contract, while the contract’s execution, final Australian-dollar value and delivery timing remain unconfirmed in the minutes.