Orange council puts draft budget and fees on exhibition

Orange City Council has put its draft 2026/2027 budget, fees and charges and related planning documents on public exhibition after its ordinary meeting at the Civic Centre in Byng Street on 5 May. Councillors also backed a maximum $50,000 co-contribution for an indoor playground grant application and approved a $4,550,195.30 athletics track and field contract in closed session.

The exhibition period covers the Draft Operational Plan 2026/2027, Delivery Program 2025-2029, Draft Asset Management Strategy 2026/2027 to 2046, Draft Long Term Financial Plan 2026/2027 to 2036, Draft Workforce Management Strategy 2026/2027 to 2030, Draft Budget 2026/2027, Draft Fees and Charges 2026/2027, Draft Strategic Policy ST27 Statement of Revenue and Draft Strategic Policy ST28 Asset Management. Council voted to place the documents on exhibition for a minimum of 28 days.

The indoor playground item was linked to Reach Sporting Association and a NSW Community Building Partnership grant application. Council resolved to commit to a maximum $50,000 co-contribution, subject to the group providing additional information before the application proceeds to Stage 2.

Cr Greenhalgh left the chamber for that item because she is a general member of Reach Sporting Association. Cr Peterson also declared an interest because his son is involved in parkour that could take place at the venue.

Councillors spent part of the meeting questioning the budget papers, including why some figures were repeated across activities, how library book stock is split into three categories, and why fees are changing for planning agreement negotiations and development control plans. Staff said the fee changes were about cost recovery and matching what other regional councils charge.

The meeting also heard that Orange Aquatic Centre fees had been reduced after benchmarking against other regional facilities. Staff said they are aiming to make family access easier through weekly or fortnightly membership payments and a summer holiday family pass.

Council also decided to make a submission to IPART saying the rate peg methodology does not account for tourism numbers. The report was considered during a broader discussion about how Orange City Council frames its financial planning in a city with a tourism base.

A separate report on withholding tax from councillor remuneration was noted. Councillors were told that if some councillors choose to withhold tax and others do not, it would create a reconciling difference and increase the chance of error.

Council deferred consideration of temporary hire or purchase of replacement defibrillators after a worldwide AED recall. Staff told councillors that signs had been placed on the units and the community had been informed. They also said about five or six of the 16 AEDs were donated.

Councillors were told the Council cannot take the recall matter further at this stage because it chose to remove the devices. Questions were also raised about refunds, insurance, usage statistics and whether AEDs could be listed on the Council website.