Works & infrastructure · Orange City Council
Orange parking reserve holds $465,000 while council investigates nearly $1m in past withdrawals
The chief executive told councillors that $974,000 was removed from the car-parking reserve in 2016 and another $12,000 the following year, but finance staff have not yet identified what the money was used for.
Reporting from public council minutes. How this article was prepared
Orange City Council’s car-parking contribution reserve held about $465,000 on 6 October, while finance staff investigated the use of $974,000 withdrawn in 2016 and a further $12,000 withdrawn the following year. The figures were given to councillors during a review of a medical-centre application at 75 Kite Street, where the parking-contribution condition was excluded.
The chief executive said the reserve had contained approximately $1 million in 2016/17 and had received about $430,000 in further contributions since then. The minutes say there is no distinct reference identifying the purpose of the earlier withdrawals, and record no completion date for the investigation.
The discussion also put the reserve’s recent use in context. The chief executive said no money from it had been spent on repairs or maintenance in the previous eight years, although it may have been used for those purposes earlier. No money had been spent on adding parking in the previous five years.
The 2015 Orange Car Parking Development Contribution Plan was also discussed during the 75 Kite Street review. Staff advised that it did not allow the charge to be waived or reduced, although a different payment schedule could be considered if council decided to provide one. The application was confirmed without its parking-contribution condition.
There was no decision at the meeting to allocate the remaining balance to a project. The chief executive said the $465,000 was intended to offset council parking costs rather than fully fund works. He also said there was no current plan to seal the remainder of Williams carpark in Peisley Street. Proposed improvements to the Ophir Car Park would need to be funded by other means.
Parking-contribution conditions were also excluded from approvals for food and drink premises at 84 Byng Street and office premises at 145 Lords Place. The minutes do not state the value of any of the excluded contributions, so they do not show how much revenue might be collected later or not collected under those approvals.
What deserves a closer look
The minutes record an unresolved gap between the reserve's reported history and its current balance: finance staff were still investigating the purpose of the two withdrawals, and the figures are not presented as a complete accounting reconciliation.
The meeting recorded no project allocation for the remaining balance and no current plan to complete sealing at Williams carpark, but it did not establish that the money is unavailable for future eligible parking works.
Questions for follow-up reporting
What transactions or projects account for the $974,000 and $12,000 withdrawals?
When will the investigation into the historical expenditure be completed or reported?
What were the dollar amounts of the parking contributions excluded from the 75 Kite Street, 84 Byng Street and 145 Lords Place approvals?
Will a different payment schedule be offered for the 75 Kite Street contribution?
What happens next
Finance staff are investigating the historical expenditure from the car-parking contribution reserve; the minutes do not specify a completion date.
Check the record
These passages were matched to the source text. Read them in context in the original minutes.
The reserve held about $465,000, after withdrawals of $974,000 in 2016 and $12,000 the following year, and finance staff were investigating the use of the money.
The Chief Executive Officer advised that in 2016/17 there was approximately $1m in reserves, and that Council has since collected another $430k. The current balance is $465k. In 2016 the reserve was reduced by $974k and in the following year it was reduced by a further $12k, and that the finance staff are currently investigating what these funds were used on as there is no distinct reference.
DA 194/2026(1) - 75 Kite Street
Open original minutes ↗No funds had been used for repairs or maintenance in the previous eight years, although they may have been used for those purposes earlier, and no money had been spent on adding parking in the previous five years.
He advised that no funds have been used for repairs or maintenance in the last 8 years, but may have been previously and that no money has been spent on adding parking in the last 5 years.
DA 194/2026(1) - 75 Kite Street
Open original minutes ↗The 75 Kite Street medical-centre determination excluded Parking Contributions condition 7.
PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MINUTES 6 OCTOBER 2026 Page 4 2.3 SECTION 8.2 REVIEW OF DETERMINATION DA 194/2026(1) - 75 KITE STREET TRIM REFERENCE: 2026/1791 RESOLVED - 26/532 Cr F Kinghorne/Cr M Ruddy That Council, pursuant to section 8.4 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, confirm the determination of Development Application DA 194/2026(1) for Medical Centre (change of use and building alterations) at Lot 1 DP 714635 – 75 Kite Street, Orange, excluding the application of Parking Contributions (condition 7).
Section 8.2 Review of Determination DA 194/2026(1) - 75 Kite Street
Open original minutes ↗Staff advised that the parking-contribution plan did not allow costs to be waived or reduced, while a different payment schedule could be considered if council decided to provide one.
The Interim Director Development Services advised that the car parking contribution plan does not contain the condition to allow staff to waive costs or provide reduction. The Chief Executive Officer explained that the 2015 Orange Car Parking Development Contribution Plan and the Community Strategic Plan requires Council to ensure sufficient car parking is provided, and that the purpose of the Orange Car Parking Development Contributions Plan is to collect funds from developers who create the demand for more parking that Council then has to accommodate using ratepayer funds.
Discussion following the 75 Kite Street determination
Open original minutes ↗There was no current plan to seal the remainder of Williams carpark in Peisley Street.
Cr Mileto asked if the Williams carpark on Peisley Street will be fully sealed with bitumen to accommodate the anticipated future usage. The Chief Executive Officer advised that there is no current plan to seal the remainder of the carpark at this time.
Discussion following the 75 Kite Street determination
Open original minutes ↗The 84 Byng Street approval excluded Parking Contributions condition 18.
THE MOTION ON BEING PUT WAS CARRIED. RESOLVED - 26/534 Cr J Whitton/Cr J Stedman That Council consents to development application DA 216/2026(1) for Demolition, Food and Drink Premises (alterations and additions) and Business Identification Signage (x 1 sign) at LOT: 0 SP: 32358, LOT: 3 SP: 32358, LOT: 2 SP: 32358, LOT: 1 SP: 32358 - 84 Byng Street ORANGE, 3/84 Byng Street ORANGE, 2/84 Byng Street ORANGE, 1/84 Byng Street ORANGE pursuant to the conditions of consent in the attached Notice of Approval, excluding the application of Parking Contributions (condition 18).
Development Application DA 216/2026(1) - 84 Byng Street
Open original minutes ↗The 145 Lords Place approval excluded Parking Contributions condition 7.
THE MOTION ON BEING PUT WAS CARRIED. RESOLVED - 26/535 Cr M Ruddy/Cr J Stedman That Council consents to development application DA 245/2026(1) for Office Premises (change of use and building alterations and additions) and Business Identification Signage at LOT: B DP: 394144 CA: 1618 - 145 Lords Place ORANGE pursuant to the conditions of consent in the attached Notice of Approval, excluding the application of Parking Contributions (condition 7).
Development Application DA 245/2026(1) - 145 Lords Place
Open original minutes ↗Source record
Reporting from the public minutes of Orange City Council’s Planning and Development Committee meeting held on 6 October 2026.
Key facts from the minutes
- The parking-contribution reserve was reported at about $465,000 on 6 October 2026.
- The CEO said approximately $974,000 was removed in 2016 and a further $12,000 in the following year, with finance staff investigating the use of those funds.
- About $430,000 had been collected since 2016/17, according to the minutes.
- No money from the fund had been spent on adding parking in the CBD in the previous five years, and no current plan existed to seal the remainder of Williams carpark.
- The 75 Kite Street medical-centre approval excluded its parking-contribution condition; contributions were also excluded from the 84 Byng Street and 145 Lords Place approvals.
Why it matters
- The reserve is funded through development contributions intended to help offset council parking costs. Its unexplained historical withdrawals, limited recent spending and use in development approvals matter to ratepayers, developers and people relying on parking in Orange’s CBD.