Housing & planning · Orange City Council
Place of worship approved at 8 Connemara Drive after weekend construction-hours dispute
Orange councillors rejected a deferral sought by Cr Jason Stedman and Cr Mel McDonell, then approved DA 152/2026(1) subject to a review of its construction conditions against NSW EPA guidelines.
Reporting from public council minutes. How this article was prepared
A proposed place of public worship at 8 Connemara Drive, Orange, has been approved after councillors rejected a bid to delay the decision for further review of construction times, safety risks and neighbour consultation. The approval is subject to the Notice of Approval conditions and a review against NSW Environment Protection Authority guidelines.
The deferral amendment was moved by Deputy Mayor Jason Stedman and Cr Mel McDonell. Stedman was the only councillor recorded as voting for it. The amendment was lost, and the substantive approval was then carried without a recorded vote against it.
Construction hours were a point of contention because the conditions included Saturday and Sunday work. Cr Fiona Kinghorne asked why they differed from Council’s standard hours. The interim director of development services said recently released EPA guidelines were being reviewed and that Council’s standard conditions might need amendment.
The resolution authorises the chief executive officer to update the approval conditions if the review finds changes are necessary. The officer also told councillors the application could be approved subject to a review of the particular conditions, so the development has approval while some construction requirements may still be revised.
The minutes record advice that engineers considered access from Connemara Drive safe for traffic and pedestrians. Access from Gorman Road would require the removal of landscaping and an envelope requirement. Footpath works along Connemara Drive were described as included in the infrastructure programme and expected within the financial year, but no more precise date was given.
Cr Mel McDonell disclosed a non-significant, non-pecuniary interest because she lives nearby and participated in the recorded vote. The minutes do not establish the facility’s scale, operating hours, expected attendance or construction start date.
What deserves a closer look
The approval was not deferred, but the recorded resolution includes a review mechanism that may alter construction conditions, particularly those covering weekend work.
The footpath reference is a programme expectation rather than a recorded completion date or an identified approval condition.
Questions for follow-up reporting
When will the EPA-guideline review of the construction conditions be completed?
What construction hours will apply while the review is pending, particularly on Saturdays and Sundays?
When will the Connemara Drive footpath works be delivered?
What are the approved facility's operating hours, scale and expected traffic levels?
What happens next
Review the conditions for DA 152/2026(1) against NSW EPA guidelines and update them if necessary; the minutes give no completion date.
Progress the Connemara Drive footpath works identified in the infrastructure programme; the minutes give no more precise timing.
Check the record
These passages were matched to the source text. Read them in context in the original minutes.
Council approved DA 152/2026(1) for a place of public worship at 8 Connemara Drive, subject to a review against EPA guidelines and possible updates to the conditions.
THE MOTION ON BEING PUT WAS CARRIED. RESOLVED - 26/531 Cr G Power/Cr T Mileto That Council consents to development application DA 152/2026(1) for Place of Public Worship at LOT: 404 DP: 1220844 CA: 5189 - 8 Connemara Drive ORANGE pursuant to the conditions of consent in the attached Notice of Approval, subject to a review of conditions with EPA guidelines and delegate to the Chief Executive Officer the update of those conditions as necessary following the review.
Resolution 26/531, item 2.2
Open original minutes ↗The proposed deferral covered construction times, safety risks and neighbour consultation.
AMENDMENT Cr J Stedman/Cr M McDonell That Council DEFER consideration of development application DA 152/2026(1) for Place of Public Worship at LOT: 404 DP: 1220844 CA: 5189 - 8 Connemara Drive ORANGE for review of approved construction times, safety risks, and neighbour consultation.
Item 2.2 amendment
Open original minutes ↗Cr Jason Stedman was the only recorded vote in favour of the deferral amendment, which was lost.
For: Cr J Stedman (Deputy Mayor) Against: Cr M McDonell (Chairperson), Cr T Mileto (Mayor), Cr K Duffy, Cr T Greenhalgh, Cr F Kinghorne, Cr D Mallard, Cr G Power, Cr M Ruddy, Cr J Whitton Absent: Cr G Judge, Cr S Peterson PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MINUTES 6 OCTOBER 2026 Page 3 THE AMENDMENT ON BEING PUT WAS LOST.
Item 2.2 amendment vote
Open original minutes ↗The conditions included Saturday and Sunday work, and staff were reviewing recently released EPA guidelines that might require changes to Council's standard conditions.
For: Cr M McDonell (Chairperson), Cr T Mileto (Mayor), Cr J Stedman (Deputy Mayor), Cr K Duffy, Cr T Greenhalgh, Cr F Kinghorne, Cr D Mallard, Cr G Power, Cr M Ruddy, Cr J Whitton Against: Nil Absent: Cr G Judge, Cr S Peterson Cr Kinghorne asked why the construction times listed in the conditions are different from standard construction hours, noting that they include Saturday and Sunday.
Item 2.2 discussion
Open original minutes ↗The officer advised that the application could be approved subject to a review of the particular conditions.
Cr McDonell asked if the development application is approved tonight would it need to comply with the updated guidelines. The Interim Director Development Services advised that the application can be approved subject to review of the particular conditions.
Item 2.2 discussion
Open original minutes ↗Engineers had determined access from Connemara Drive was safe for traffic and pedestrians, while Gorman Road access would require the removal of landscaping and an envelope requirement.
The Interim Director Development Services advised that engineers have determined access from Connemara Drive as safe for use by traffic and pedestrians, and that for Gorman Road access to be available it will require the removal of landscaping and an envelope requirement.
Item 2.2 discussion
Open original minutes ↗Footpath works along Connemara Drive were included in the programme and expected within the financial year.
Cr Whitton asked when footpaths are expected to be constructed along Connemara Drive. The Acting Director Infrastructure Services advised that the footpath works are included in the program and are expected to be installed within this financial year.
Item 2.2 discussion
Open original minutes ↗Cr Mel McDonell disclosed a non-significant, non-pecuniary interest because she resides nearby and was listed among the councillors voting on the approval.
For: Cr M McDonell (Chairperson), Cr T Mileto (Mayor), Cr J Stedman (Deputy Mayor), Cr K Duffy, Cr T Greenhalgh, Cr F Kinghorne, Cr D Mallard, Cr G Power, Cr M Ruddy, Cr J Whitton Against: Nil Absent: Cr G Judge, Cr S Peterson 2.2 DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION DA 152/2026(1) - 8 CONNEMARA TRIM REFERENCE: 2026/1895 Cr McDonell declared a Non-Significant Non-Pecuniary Interest in this Item as she as she resides nearby.
Item 2.2 interest declaration
Open original minutes ↗Source record
Reporting from the public minutes of Orange City Council’s Planning & Development Policy Committee meeting on 6 October 2026.
Key facts from the minutes
- DA 152/2026(1) for a place of public worship at 8 Connemara Drive was approved on 6 October 2026.
- The approval is subject to the Notice of Approval conditions and a review against NSW EPA guidelines, with the chief executive officer authorised to update conditions if necessary.
- A proposed deferral for reviewing construction times, safety risks and neighbour consultation was defeated, with Cr Jason Stedman recorded as the only vote for it.
- Council’s minutes say engineers considered access from Connemara Drive safe for traffic and pedestrians.
- Footpath works on Connemara Drive were said to be in the programme and expected within the financial year, but no precise completion date was recorded.
Why it matters
- Nearby residents may be affected by the approved development and by any later changes to construction-hour conditions, including the treatment of weekend work.