MANAGEMENT PLAN 2011/12

May 5, 2011

Orange City Council has released the 2011/12 Draft Management Plan.

The $124.8 million draft budget includes $85.3 million in operational expenditure and $39.5 million in capital expenditure. It includes a deficit in General Fund of $48,080.

The Draft Management Plan will be considered at an Extraordinary Meeting of Council from 5.30pm on Wednesday 4 May before being placed on public exhibition.

The plan is proposed to be on public exhibition and open for comment 9 May to 3 June 2011.

Submissions need to be made in writing to General Manager.

The Draft Management Plan’s key projects include:

  • North Orange Bypass
  • Stage 6 of the Narrambla Business Park
  • A $732,550 drainage construction program
  • $785,290 in Airport developments
  • The tendering process for the Euchareena Road Waste Facility
  • Water main and meter replacement valued at $519,480
  • Sewer mains renewal of $763,700

The draft budget includes:

  • General rates increase of 2.8% as recently announced by IPART
  • Central Business District rate increased 2.8% as recently announced by IPART
  • The residential water rate availability charge increased from $170.15 to $185.20 per assessment
  • The residential sewer charge increased from $333.80 to $337.15
  • The water consumption charge increased from $1.60 to $1.70 per kilolitre for the first 450KL and to $2.55 per kilolitre for the remainder
  • Household kerbside garbage collection increased from $163.30 to $176.70 per year
  • Household recycle charge increased from $55.00 to $56.65 per assessment

The combined impact of above increases would add $94.35 per year or $1.81 per week to an average residential household, which has an average rate and uses the average water consumption each year. This amount ($94.35) comprises – Rates $36.40, Water Availability charge $15.05, Water Usage $25.00, Household/Recycle charge $15.05 and Sewer Availability charge $3.35.

As indicated the above relates to an average household. Single households may not use any more than 80KL of water per year which would reduce the above by $17.00.

The consolidated debt service ratio for the 2009/2010 year was 7.62 per cent, the projected for 2010/2011 is 6.30 per cent and 4.09 per cent for the 2011/2012 year.

Electricity is provided at a 20 per cent increase across Council sites, this accounts for approximately $480,000 additional expenditure.

The projected net operating cost for the Aquatic Centre including the new indoor facility (before renewals and capital expenditure) is $865,670 for year 1.

The proposed entry fee of $4.00 per child/adult is consistent with average charges currently paid at various other comparable Council centres.

ADULT

$

CHILD

$

AVERAGE

$

Orange

4.00

4.00

4.00

Bathurst

5.70

3.50

4.60

Wagga

5.50

3.50

4.50

Lismore

4.00

4.00

4.00

Tamworth

3.40

2.40

2.90

Albury

4.00

2.90

2.30

Kurri Kurri

4.25

3.65

3.95

Lakeside ACT

6.00

4.00

5.00

Under the Draft Management Plan a snapshot of the net expenditure result is:

  • Library – $1.3 million or $82.59 per rate assessment
  • Cook Park – $445,610 or $26.65 per rate assessment
  • Customer Service – $351,440 or $21.02 per rate assessment
  • Road Maintenance – $1.67 million or $100.31 per rate assessment
  • Road Rehabilitation – $3.22 million or $192.96 per rate assessment
  • Cemetery – $116,270 or $6.95 per rate assessment
  • Lake Canobolas – $244,260 or $14.61 per rate assessment
  • Tourism Development and Information – $204,250 or $12.22 per rate assessment
  • Ageing and Disability Services – $75,680 or $4.53 per rate assessment
  • Youth Services – $181,090 or $10.83 per rate assessment

“IN THE BIN” RETURNS TO ORANGE

October 27, 2010

Orange City Council is hosting the very successful touring short film educational program “In the Bin” from November 8-10.

“In the Bin” offers participants aged 15-25 years the opportunity to gain hands on experience while creating their own short film.

Over the duration of three days, four teams are supplied with cameras and editing systems to create their masterpieces depicting elements of the community in a five minute film.

“In the Bin” festival director Jed Cahill said the aim was to give the community the highest standard of short film festival in Australia and the world.

“We provide all equipment needed, and tour instructors are always around to help when needed. We believe in letting the students make all the creative decisions in the making of their films.”

The community will have the opportunity to review the films during an afternoon presentation at the Orange Botanic Gardens.

This program was made possible through the support of Orange City Council

Workshop numbers are strictly limited. Four groups are formed and each group will get the opportunity to create their own short film. The participants will shoot the film as a team with equal participation and all will hold the credit of Director.

The festival teaches the participants the ability of working and thinking as a group in the process of creating their own short film. In the Bin will assist in developing the ideas and planning of the shoot. Group building exercises will also be held as an opening activity to the program.

Contact your school for details or Orange City Council representative, Lynda Bowtell on mobile 0419 445 618.

Jed Cahill can be contacted on 0400 795 093.


COOK PARK TREE MANAGEMENT

October 26, 2010

As part of the management of the trees in Cook Park, six trees will be removed over the coming weeks.

These trees include several that have been overcrowded and trees that are of poor quality. The most significant removal is a Camphor Cook Park Orange NSWLaurel tree that is in severe decline.

Trees to be removed include 2 of the 37 elm trees currently located in the park. The larger of these elm trees is severely decayed and is to be removed due to safety concerns.

Other trees to be removed include one of the 12 English Oak trees that are being overcrowded, a poplar tree and an Ash tree.

The Cook Park of today is due to the foresight given to the planting of trees from the 1870’s. Since this time Cook Park has developed into one of NSW most impressive Victorian style landscapes. The park and the trees need to be managed for future generations.

The trees of Cook Park are arguably the most significant element of the park. However as a consequence trees can also generate significant costs and present a range of risks especially as trees age.

Several reports have been commissioned to investigate the health and viability of trees in Cook Park. In 2003 a complete inventory of the trees in Cook Park was developed.

Tree removal works are scheduled to be completed by the end of November 2010, weather permitting.


SUSTAINABLE LIVING Launch

August 15, 2010

The Rotary Club of Orange Sustainability Living Week was launched August 12 at 10.30am at the Tafe Western Green Skills Trade Education centre on Forest Road.

Available for interviews at the launch was Mayor John Davis, Rotary Club of Orange President George Blackwell and representing Tafe Western Sandra Gray.

Sustainability Living Week, from September 11 to 19, involves a range of activities demonstrating how people can make better decisions about their environment.

The activities include a sustainable living debate between schools, a car fuel saver economy run, Questacon, sustainable home and garden tours and information on green building design.


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