community services · Orange City Council
Orange council defers homeless site decision for workshop
Orange City Council deferred a decision on a proposed location for people experiencing homelessness or rough sleeping and will hold a workshop with key stakeholders first.
Orange City Council has deferred a decision on a proposed location for people experiencing homelessness or rough sleeping, voting 11-0 at its 3 March meeting to hold a workshop first.
The item, listed as CCL 5.2, was heard at the council chamber in Orange as part of the ordinary meeting that began at 6:01pm. The minutes do not name the proposed site.
The resolution was direct: council would defer the item for the purpose of conducting a workshop with key stakeholders. Before that item was discussed, Pastor Joshua Bleyerveen of Orange Uniting Church addressed council during the open forum.
The homelessness proposal was one of several public decisions on the night. Council also resolved to apply the existing water and sewer charges to areas identified as short and medium term within the Orange Local Housing Strategy (2022).
That resolution affects development in parts of the housing strategy area. The chief executive officer declared an interest in the item and left the room at 8:15pm.
Council also advanced the Valencia Drive, Coogal Wetlands and Distributor Loop lighting project to its next stage. The plan now includes community and stakeholder consultation, refinement of design and staging, identification and pursuit of grant funding, and a further report with refined costings, funding options and a proposed delivery pathway.
A councillor asked why the map for the lighting project does not include the walkway on the Northern Distributor and Escort Way. The minutes record the question but not a response.
Another resolution put Strategic Policy ST59 - Feral & Infant Animal Management on public exhibition for at least 28 days.
Councillors also asked for more detail on how Affordable Housing Strategy funding has been spent and what remains, and requested a fact sheet for residents on the requirements for building a secondary dwelling.
In closed session, council later consented to an easement on Lot 96 DP 1190941 at 296-298 Summer Street and asked for an options paper on the fit out and operation of the Planetarium. It also nominated up to one councillor for the LGNSW Rural and Regional Summit and two councillors for the LGNSW Destination and Visitor Economy Conference 2026.
Reference minutes
Source: Orange City Council ordinary meeting, 3 March 2026.
Key facts from the minutes
- Orange City Council deferred the Proposed Location for Homeless or Rough Sleeping item on 3 March 2026.
- The vote on the deferral was unanimous among councillors present, 11-0.
- Council said it would hold a workshop with key stakeholders before any further decision.
- Council resolved to apply existing water and sewer charges to short and medium term areas in the Orange Local Housing Strategy (2022).
- Council approved the next stage of the Valencia Drive, Coogal Wetlands and Distributor Loop lighting project.
- Strategic Policy ST59 - Feral & Infant Animal Management was placed on public exhibition for at least 28 days.
- Council asked for more detail on Affordable Housing Strategy spending and a fact sheet on secondary dwelling requirements.
Why it matters
- Orange council has deferred a homelessness location call until after a workshop, while also advancing servicing charges, a lighting project and a public policy review that affect residents across the city.