Search Results

April 12, 2024 By Peter Holmes Orange City Council has hired a Sydney lawyer and business owner to run the review into the Lords Place redevelopment, and she is playing her cards close to her chest. Pendlebury Workplace Law, established by Brooke Pendlebury in 2006, will conduct the investigation. Her brief is based purely on the motion passed by councillors on February 20, 2024. The motion, put by councillor Frances Kinghorne - who had voted against the Lords Place redevelopment in late 2022 - and seconded by councillor Glenn Floyd - who had voted for it, stated: “That Orange City Council arrange, as soon as practicable, an independent review of the planning, approval and construction of the Lords Pl Sth Future Cities development. “This review should consider the following: “1. Whether all relevant accurate information was officially given to councillors prior to the approval. “2. Whether all required/usual planning protocols and procedures were undertaken in relation to this matter. “3. Whether there were any concerns raised by staff involved in the development, especially in relation to the apparent haste in implementing the project, and, if so, how were these concerns addressed? “4. Whether the immediate start on the project was consistent with regulations, especially in relation to the effective blocking of any potential rescission motion. “5. Whether there was effective consultation/ communication with the business owners during the development. Did the minutes of the meetings held accurately reflect the content of those meetings and were these minutes adopted at subsequent meetings? “6. Whether the differences between the concept plans and the actual development were necessary, specifically in relation to the arrangement of the double tree pits as perpendicular to the footpath rather than angled to align better with the parking spaces. “7. What internal reviews have already been conducted to date, and what is the outcome of any such reviews?” The vote was unanimous, with 11 in favour and one (Jack Evans) absent. The Orange News Examiner has been contacted by readers to ask how they can provide information that may assist the inquiry. One Lords Place businessperson has said he wants the investigator to hold a public forum where those affected by the Lords Place redevelopment can have their say. And community group Orange Residents And Ratepayers - which organised the petition calling for a review into the ill-fated $1.58 million project - says it has prepared a dossier about the redevelopment, but wants to deliver it directly to Pendlebury. The petition was signed by 20 people from businesses on Lords Place south. The 20 represented almost every tenant on that strip of Lords Place, and most were owners, directors and/or or managers. One (Phil Donato) was state MP, who had moved offices from Byng Street to Lords Place south. A call was made to Pendlebury on Friday afternoon, but she declined to comment and said all media and general public inquiries should be directed to Orange City Council. The Orange News Examiner reported at the end of February that, contrary to widespread belief, the Office of Local Government (OLG) would have no involvement in the investigation into Orange City Council’s handling of the Lords Place south redevelopment. The OLG - the state government agency overseeing NSW councils - told us there appeared to be confusion surrounding its role in any review. After checking the Orange City Council agenda papers from February 20, 2024, the OLG said the motion voted for by councillors did not require its involvement. That caused disquiet among some councillors and other interested parties, who wanted the OLG to conduct its own investigation, and greater involvement from the local government minister Ron Hoenig. Pendlebury Workplace Law was chosen - and will be paid - by Orange City Council, which selected from an OLG “panel list”. The list is of individuals or businesses approved by the OLG to conduct such reviews. Council has estimated the cost at $20,000 to $25,000, although the final amount may be determined by what resources are actually required to conduct an investigation that meets the parameters set by the councillors. According to the company's website Pendlebury "works closely with many Councils in NSW and corporate clients providing assistance by conducting external workplace investigations. Brooke also sits on a number of Code of Conduct Panels for various Councils". Pendlebury has worked as a senior industrial officer with industrial unions in the local government, and public and private health sectors. She has also worked for employer industrial associations as a solicitor and senior advisor. She has a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Finance and Marketing, a Bachelor of Laws, and a Masters of Commerce majoring in Industrial Relations and Organisational Behaviour from the University of New South Wales. "Brooke is also an adjunct lecturer in law at the University of NSW, the UNSW Business School, the Macquarie Graduate School of Management, and at Charles Sturt University," the website states. "In addition to industrial and employment law matters, Brooke has a particular interest and expertise in conducting workplace investigations and mediations, and is a member of the Australian Mediation Association." You can read more from our in-depth coverage of Lords Place here. Watch our Lords Place Memories video here.

April 11, 2024 By Peter Holmes A modern "box" home with a fire pit, inground pool, triple garage and two outdoor terraces has been pitched for Orange. A development application (DA) before Orange City Council is seeking approval for the construction at 7 Hilldale Crescent, west of the CBD. The DA proposes a dwelling, attached garage, inground swimming pool and pool fencing. "The Box Modern style is characterised by large blocks or cube-shaped volumes that are stacked, intersecting, or arranged to form compelling, contemporary residences," says James Hardie. The plans are light on internal detail, however artist’s external impressions show a thoroughly modern property with landscaping to match. Buried in the plans is the fact that the property would have a “roof area” of 457.5 square metres. The land - 2,036 square metres - sold in September 2019 for $395,000. The DA says “the home has been architecturally designed to harmoniously integrate into the surrounding estate to complement and enhance the visual area … the architectural design and the selection of materials of the home has been carefully considered … ” Under the heading of “Visual Bulk”, the question “Will the proposed development appear bulky from either the street frontage or the adjoining residences?” is asked in the DA. The response is: “Yes, the architectural design of the home has been given careful consideration to the bulk and scale of the streetscape. "The second story of the home has been set back from both the front and side setbacks to enhance architectural appeal and soften the bulk and scale of the home.” If approved, the construction would occur in two stages. The exhibition documents are available for viewing on Orange City Council’s website, and at the Customer Service Counter of the Civic Centre (ground floor) Byng Street, Orange. Submissions close at 5pm on Wednesday, 24 April 24, 2024. MORE NEWS ... Tim Mortimer makes a call on the future of Orange's "A Night In Nashville" honky tonk “Human error” led to Orange Ex-Services' Club accidentally giving away $21,000 DA approval the only thing standing between Orange land owner and a motza Terrifying highs, and devastating lows: Euan Macleod, Flux: Orange Regional Gallery INSIDE STORY: The mystery behind the naming of Orange's newest street Racine Restaurant favourites - and maybe a glass of vino - back on the menu at new bakery location Long lease available at pub in Orange CBD Orange Ex-Services' Club CEO resigns; Sydney sea change beckons

April 11, 2024 By Peter Holmes The man behind Orange’s A Night In Nashville country music concert, Tim Mortimer, has crunched the numbers and come to the conclusion that doing two nights instead of one is too risky, and too time consuming. A Night In Nashville at the Orange Showground's Naylor Pavilion had been a one-night honky tonk for its first two years (2021 and 2023), but for 2024 Mortimer expanded the event to run over two nights. Each night - Friday March 1 and Saturday March 2 - had its own lineup. Booking two nights of entertainment meant dealing with twice as many artists and booking agents, and paying more for entertainment, security and other outgoings. For Mortimer, whose main business is BNB Made Easy, it was a bridge too far. The Saturday night concert - headlined each year by local Robbie Mortimer - was sold out, with a waiting list of around 100 people. The addition of the Friday night proved problematic. The sales were fair, but not good enough to make it financially worthwhile. Mortimer says while the first A Night In Nashville attracted mainly locals, the most recent was about a 50-50 split, with people travelling from places including Queensland, Victoria, Sydney, Cessnock and Wollongong. Analysis and feedback have shown Mortimer that people enjoy the event, and see it as something unique. “But people from out of town didn't have enough time to get here for the Friday night,” Mortimer said. A Night In Nashville is slated for March 2025. Mortimer loves the Naylor Pavilion as a venue, but says it would be nice to be able to consider larger venues, if he could find one suitable. Without support from any grants, art funds or investors, Mortimer has carried the stress of organising and running the event, plus he takes a large financial risk. He came up with the idea for A Night In Nashville during Covid as a way to get people together, and provide some work for battling musicians and singers. As it's grown, so have his dreams. He said one way of increasing capacity could be to introduce a honky tonk bar away from the main pavilion, where people can sit and have a drink and a chat. Mortimer is wary of making it a daytime show for families with young children, as he said one of the things he enjoys most about putting on the event is seeing families and friends letting their hair down for a night of fun without having to worry about the kids. Then again, when discussing how Orange had lost its winter jazz festival, and what sort of large musical celebration might work here, he envisioned a large multi-day festival celebrating the music of Tennessee, with a car show, US barbecues smoking meats low and slow, a country fair sort of vibe, maybe a well-known American performer. “I see the opportunity,” he says. Now to find someone with very deep pockets ... “Human error” led to Orange Ex-Services' Club accidentally giving away $21,000 DA approval the only thing standing between Orange land owner and a motza Terrifying highs, and devastating lows: Euan Macleod, Flux: Orange Regional Gallery INSIDE STORY: The mystery behind the naming of Orange's newest street Racine Restaurant favourites - and maybe a glass of vino - back on the menu at new bakery location Long lease available at pub in Orange CBD Orange bakery on the move Orange Ex-Services' Club CEO resigns; Sydney sea change beckons

April 11, 2024 By Peter Holmes A woman has been awarded $21,000 by Orange Ex-Services’ Club after human error led to the wrong person being announced as the winner of a major jackpot. A few hundred people were at Orange Ex-Services’ Club on Tuesday night for the badge draw and Members Jackpot, a thrice-weekly event in which random numbers are selected from among the club’s membership at 6pm and 7:30pm. "You could change your life by winning the OESC Members Jackpot!" says a club promotion. "Watch as the progressive jackpot climbs by $1,000 each week until won! Every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday at 6pm and 7:30pm. "Members will automatically be entered into the Members’ Jackpot. All you need to do is be present at the Club on draw nights and be ready to claim the cash prize if your membership number is drawn." Between these two jackpot draws, another draw is held at 7pm. This draw has a much lower prize ($250), but there is a far greater chance of winning. This is because the major jackpot feeds every single club member - around 20,000 people - into the draw. The winner not only has to have their details drawn out, they also have to be in the club when it happens. But the $250 prize winner is drawn from a far smaller pool - only those people who have swiped their membership card at the club. When it came to announce the winner of a $250 prize, a staff member accidentally announced that the woman had won the $21,000 jackpot. According to sources, there was confusion in the immediate aftermath of the announcement as the club realised it had mistakenly announced which prize was being drawn. As the hordes headed for the exit doors, the woman and club staff were left to work out what had just happened, and how it would be remedied. A senior club source told The Orange News Examiner that the club “honoured” the incorrect jackpot payment. “It was a good night for [the woman] - the club honoured it. We could’ve started arguments, but it was a human error, and there are some reasons behind that, so she was granted the money.” Comment has been sought from the winner, who The Orange News Examiner has chosen not to name. MORE NEWS ... DA approval the only thing standing between Orange land owner and a motza Terrifying highs, and devastating lows: Euan Macleod, Flux: Orange Regional Gallery INSIDE STORY: The mystery behind the naming of Orange's newest street Racine Restaurant favourites - and maybe a glass of vino - back on the menu at new bakery location Long lease available at pub in Orange CBD Orange bakery on the move Orange Ex-Services' Club CEO resigns; Sydney sea change beckons Cut maximum speed to 60? Councillors vote on next step for "pretty crappy" Pinnacle Road

By Peter Holmes When it sold in 2016 for $890,000, the 2.6-hectare block of land at 11 Park Road south of the Orange CBD came with a three-bedroom, two-bathroom home with self-contained studio and parking for four. “We are finding more and more people that just want to live on some acres close to town with room for the kids to ride bikes or a horse or just find that place where they have their own space,” the sales spiel read at the time. “Located in the new suburb of Shiralee this property is only five minutes drive to the CBD. Situated on approximately 2.6 hectares this home has been built to suit the growing family, or the savvy investor.” The pitch noted that “the land has just been re-zoned and has multiple opportunities”. Eight years down the road and someone - believed to be a local businessman - is set to make a motza on 11 Park Road. But first some hurdles need to be cleared. A development application (DA) is currently on exhibition at Orange City Council. It is seeking permission to carve up 11 Park Road into 16 residential lots in a two-stage process. The size of Lot 16 at the front of the block would be 2,085 square metres, and the other 15 lots would vary in size from 700 square metres to 827 square metres. The development would include a public reserve and new roads. The land is spread across two planning zones. The back of the property, where the residential lots are slated to be positioned, allows developments of the size proposed. In fact, in the burgeoning Shiralee estate, lots in the 350 to 450 square metre range are being established to allow for low maintenance living. At the front of the property the legal minimum size lot (MLS) is 2,400 square metres, and the DA seeks Orange City Council’s approval to vary this condition by about 15 percent for one block (Lot 16). “The variation to the development standard is necessary to ensure a cohesive layout …” the DA states. The first stage would be to subdivide to create two lots (Lot 17 and 18). Lot 17 would be where the current house is located, and Lot 18 would be created as a large vacant lot to be further subdivided in Stage 2. Regarding surrounding land, the DA states: “Park Road is located immediately to the north of the subject land and forms part of the planned Southern Feeder Road network, which is presently under construction. “Immediately to the north on the opposite side of Park Road, is a place of public worship and is zoned R2 Low Density Residential. Land immediately to the west comprises of vacant and undeveloped R1 [General Residential] and R2 [Low-density] zoned land.” The DA noted that another DA, for “an 86 lot residential subdivision based on a MLS of 700m2, has been approved at 55 Rifle Range Road (to the south). The first stage of this subdivision has been constructed”. The land to the east, on the opposite side of Rifle Range Road, was zoned C2 Environmental Management, it said. It’s impossible to put an exact price on the 16 lots of more than 700 square metres in the potential Park Road subdivision. However a block in Shiralee on 404 square metres is currently listed for $290,000 to $310,000. If the 15 Park Road residential blocks were valued at an average of $400,000 each, it would represent $6 million in value, less costs. The two large blocks at the front of the property would add another chunk of money to the windfall. The DA is on public exhibition online and at Orange City Council chambers on Byng Street. Public comment is welcome before 5pm on April 19, 2024. MORE NEWS ... Terrifying highs, and devastating lows: Euan Macleod, Flux: Orange Regional Gallery INSIDE STORY: The mystery behind the naming of Orange's newest street Racine Restaurant favourites - and maybe a glass of vino - back on the menu at new bakery location Long lease available at pub in Orange CBD Orange bakery on the move Orange Ex-Services' Club CEO resigns; Sydney sea change beckons Cut maximum speed to 60? Councillors vote on next step for "pretty crappy" Pinnacle Road

April 8, 2024 Euan Macleod Flux Orange Regional Gallery Until June 2, 2024 Free entry By Peter Holmes Euan Macleod's collection of paintings of the NZ southern alps - Haupapa Tasman Glacier to be precise - capture the awesome, terrifying, moody nature of the jagged snow-capped peaks and plunging cliffs. There is an uneasy feeling about Macleod's paintings. Ghostly. Treacherous. They can trigger a sense of vertigo, as rock climbers drenched in rain and falling snow trudge and clamber up, down and across the brutal, spectacular landscapes. Giant figures loom, but are they real? Orange is fortunate to have secured this exhibition, which is a partnership between Orange Regional Gallery and ANU Drill Hall Gallery. The art ranges in size from A3 (painted on location) to massive canvases. Macleod paints in an intuitive and busy fashion, slopping on acrylic, and prodding his canvases with brushes and scrapers. Macleod says he had never realised how physical he was when working, until he saw video of himself for this exhibition. The theatrette at the gallery is running an excellent 14-minute film on Macleod. He explains why the mountains were an indelible part of his childhood, and we see him painting outdoors in the elements, in a small windswept cabin and in his studio. The large pieces can take months to complete, and can be reworked numerous times until they capture the essence of what's in Macleod's head. The second part of the exhibition is the result of hundreds of video conversations Macleod had with his friend Geoff Dixon on their phones during Covid. Dixon was mourning the loss of his partner, and with each phone call Macleod would paint his friend as they spoke. The collection of 200 small paintings arranged together charts Dixon's journey through his grief, but Macleod says the experience was as therapeutic for him as it was for Dixon. To follow is a series of images from the exhibition and the short film. MORE NEWS ... INSIDE STORY: The mystery behind the naming of Orange's newest street Racine Restaurant favourites - and maybe a glass of vino - back on the menu at new bakery location Long lease available at pub in Orange CBD Orange bakery on the move Orange Ex-Services' Club CEO resigns; Sydney sea change beckons Cut maximum speed to 60? Councillors vote on next step for "pretty crappy" Pinnacle Road Orange festival cancelled after money dries up Orange residents fighting to keep a large modern home out of their “1970s time capsule” street

April 6, 2024 By Peter Holmes It began with a statement published on the Orange City Council (OCC) website. In attempting to unravel a mystery within the statement, The Orange News Examiner was taken into a world of role-playing video, an over-55s complex in Florida, a property developer building 203 houses in Orange, a fantasy game, the Geographical Names Board, and a Romanian horror novel. “Orange’s newest streets will be called Maplewood, Woodlands and Whisperwood,” the OCC statement read. “Under state regulations (Section 162 of the Roads Act 1993) Orange City Council is required to inform the community about new street names by placing an item on the council website. The new streets are in a new housing subdivision in the new Shiralee housing area. “The new subdivision is on the south-western corner of the Shiralee Road – Pinnacle Road intersection.” The announcement was accompanied by a map. It showed that Maplewood Street would be located in a greenfields site on the western end of Shiralee Road. It would start off at Shiralee Road and intersect with the newly formed Woodlands Circuit. Likewise Whisperwood Lane. While Maplewood and Woodlands were well-established words, the same couldn't be said of Whisperwood. Who, what or where was a Whisperwood? Dictionaries didn’t want to know about the word whisperwood. Whistlewood, yes. Whisperwood, no. A Google search yielded a few clues. Some of them related to dark fantasy worlds from fiction, and card, board and video games. Not the typical source material for street names in regional NSW. There was the 2023 book Whisperwood, written by Romanian Alex Woodroe and described as a “dark fantasy, folk horror novel inspired by Romanian folklore”. Whisperwood was also listed as a location in the role-playing video game Octopath Traveler. The game was released for the Nintendo Switch in July 2018, Windows in June 2019, Stadia in April 2020 and Xbox One in March 2021. Meanwhile, The Whisperwood was a large forest located in Cheliax, a fictitious land in the Pathfinder roleplaying game, published in 2009 by Paizo Publishing. “Despite centuries of settlement surrounding it, the vast and ancient forest remains mostly untouched,” said a Pathfinder Wiki of The Whisperwood. “Desperate outlaws occasionally seek refuge under its canopy, only to encounter gruesome fates. Local legends speak of a mysterious menace that holds sway over the Whisperwood, and it is widely known that devils prowl its depths.” And then there was Whisperwood Elemental, a card within the Fate Reforged game. Fate Reforged was itself part of the trading card game Magic: The Gathering, which had been around for more than 30 years. If little to none of the above makes any sense whatsoever, you are not alone. “THE WOODS" have figured in many fairy tales over the centuries, and they can be enchanted (magical) and dangerous places. Whisperwood sounds like something from a Tim Burton film, full of spindly, silhouetted trees that come alive. “In German folklore, woods – particularly those dense with oaks – were a place to be feared and avoided, associated with outlaws, hunters and wolves,” said Orion Magazine in a review of Grimms’ Fairy Tales (1812-1858). “It is perhaps unsurprising, then, that enchanted forests serve as the backdrop for the majority of the folk tales popularized in this classic collection, from Snow White to Little Red Riding Hood, Hansel and Gretel to Sleeping Beauty. “Frogs, owls, hedgehogs and other inhabitants of the forest populate these stories, as do elderly women living alone in the woods. As told here, the tales are far darker and steeped in blood than their wholesome Disney counterparts.” Among lesser known works from the Brothers Grimm is The Hut In The Wood, where kids are kept in a cellar. A late-1980s musical written by Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine, Into The Woods, was based on a number of fairytales. According to a Playbill story from 1987: “The excursion into the woods is a rite of passage, a test of character, fortitude, and inner strength. In those dark environs the travelers must battle not only very real foes, but their own personal fears as well. They start out as babes in the woods; they lose their innocence along the way and emerge tougher, wiser, more humane, and human.” Anyway, we seem to have drifted off the trail deep into the woods, and that can’t be a wise move, given all that we know. Back in the real world, there is Whisperwood Lodge & Cottages in the US, “overlooking peaceful Salmon Lake in the Belgrade Lakes Region of Maine, famous for its largemouth and smallmouth bass fishing”. In fact, there were a number of accommodations and locations across the US named Whisperwood - Whisperwood Farm in Tennessee, Whisperwood Way in Idaho, Whisperwood Apartments in Seattle. In DeLand, Florida, was a community for people aged 55 and over. It has a “beautifully decorated clubhouse [with] a British West Indies theme and provides a landscaped resort atmosphere to enjoy while you listen to soothing music and relax in the sun”. The complex, of course, was called Whisperwood. Finding an explanation, however, for why these places were named Whisperwood was another thing. They just were. Orange City Council was approached to help solve the mystery of how Orange’s newest street came to be named after a word that doesn’t really exist. A council spokesperson said that most street names in new residential areas like this one were named by the developer, not council. In this case the developer was Oakstand. Final approval was granted by the NSW Geographical Names Board. [Council does have sway on some thoroughfares, such as the Southern Feeder Road, which is currently going through a process of being renamed, with community input via the YourSay web portal.] The Orange News Examiner contacted the Geographical Names Board (GNB) and Oakstand. “The GNB has reviewed and assessed the proposed names against the guidelines set out in the NSW Address Policy and User Manual, and the three names have been approved,” the GNB said of Orange's three new streets. As part of the process of gaining approval, developers have to provide information about the origin of new street names. “This is the origin info provided for Whisperwood: Whisperwood Lane is in keeping within the existing flora theme of nearby localities,” said the GNB. This was all great, but did it get us any closer to solving the mystery of who exactly named this street, and why? It did not. Two days after an email was sent to Oakstand, The Orange News Examiner made a follow up call. A woman answered and said this very topic was being discussed in a meeting, and that someone would be in touch. The following day Oakstand CEO David Cullen called. He said that Oakstand was behind a development at the Shiralee Estate south of the Orange CBD that would result in some 203 houses being built over the next three to four years. Oakstand prided itself on the landscaping undertaken on new builds, Cullen said. He said that as part of the development more than 100 mature trees were relocated to a park within the precinct. Therefore the names Maplewood, Woodlands and Whisperwood seemed a natural fit. Oakstand is a developer with multiple projects on the go. Cullen is a busy man, and probably didn’t start his day expecting to be questioned about the precise genesis of a street name, but he patiently tried to recall. “To be totally honest, Whisperwood Lane was a name we felt fitted well with the other new names - the main theme being there is a high level of landscaping, and around 700 new trees, plus the 100 give or take [being transplanted into local parkland].” So there was no link whatsoever between Whisperwood Lane and creepy novels, over-55 resorts, or fantasy card and board games? “Yeah, yeah - no, there’s no significant link to anything. We just felt that name fitted in well.” And that was that. Cullen, who had given 15 minutes of his precious time to discuss Whisperwood Lane and other pertinent Orange real estate matters, was due in a meeting and had to keep moving. Did the explanation unravel exactly how Whisperwood Lane came to be? Sort of. A bit, but not really. A detective trying to solve a case might press further. Who exactly thought the name Whisperwood fitted in well? Were they a fantasy, role playing, goth-horror, Brothers Grimm type having a private joke? Had they been enjoying largemouth and smallmouth bass fishing in Maine? Were they planning to retire in Florida? Or had they just conjured it out of thin air, oblivious to all the weird and wonderful connections? But this was not a criminal case, and The Orange News Examiner was not a detective. We would have to let go of Whisperwood Lane, and allow it to keep an air of mystery, for it appears as if that is how this tale was meant to end. MORE NEWS ... Racine Restaurant favourites - and maybe a glass of vino - back on the menu at new bakery location Long lease available at pub in Orange CBD Orange bakery on the move Orange Ex-Services' Club CEO resigns; Sydney sea change beckons Cut maximum speed to 60? Councillors vote on next step for "pretty crappy" Pinnacle Road Teen charged after allegedly threatening Orange senior constable during arrest Ford Ranger in Orange allegedly doing 150km/h in a 50km/h zone EVEN MORE NEWS ... Orange festival cancelled after money dries up Orange residents fighting to keep a large modern home out of their “1970s time capsule” street Wheels in motion to change Pinnacle Road speed limits Lords Place outdoor furniture is up for grabs - but there is a catch Hotel Orange is in a prime position, but prospective buyers will notice one thing missing INSIDE STORY: Will tougher new bail laws for teenagers make Orange a safer place to live, or just create more hardened criminals? COULD IT BE? YES IT IS - MORE NEWS ... New Mukoko all a-go-go Owners of the 'salmon house' on Moulder Street pitch grand makeover. But will the paint job survive? Confusion reigns supreme, as council can't quite remember where it stands on mountain bike trails Death threat made to Orange Aquatic Centre staff during summer free entry period Hands up who remembers going to Orange's Trinity Preschool? "Tone it down": Orange deputy mayor Gerald Power shocked by Nat leader's remote camp language New crime data shows the chance of your property being broken into Orange, Walgett, Dubbo and Broken Hill is roughly the same Too much confusion leads to one big change at Orange's The Sonic Anybody need a lift?

April 5, 2024 By Peter Holmes Racine Bakery will revive elements from the former Racine Restaurant when it moves to a new location next month. “Pared back Racine Restaurant classics” will feature on the new menu, alongside bakery standards such as pies, sausage rolls and sandwiches. There is also a plan to bring back aperitivo - a pre-dinner drink designed to stimulate the appetite - and offer BYO for wine purchased from Racine’s new neighbour Lane Cellars. “It’s hoped the move will make it easier for shoppers to shop at Racine, if they can get all their shopping in one place, especially in bad weather,” said Racine’s co-owner Willa Arantz. The new Racine will be opposite Harris Farm Market in the shop most recently tenanted by Herba Salata. Other arcade businesses include Cured smallgoods, Scoop Wholefoods, and Scrumptious On Summer cafe. “It’s exciting to be surrounded by gourmet and complementary food businesses,” said co-owner Shaun Arantz. He said Racine would hopefully “help cement the arcade as a food precinct, and we plan on working closely with those businesses … to really sell the food shopping precinct concept.” The current Racine Bakery site, also facing the Woolies car park, is a little pokey, and when demand is high the queues inside and out can become unwieldy. The move means more space for people to line up undercover. Racine will still operate as a retail bakery, and most of the current products will remain, although some “low-selling products may disappear”. The well-regarded Racine Restaurant around Nashdale closed in 2020.

April 4, 2024 By Peter Holmes The opportunity to breathe new life into an Orange pub has arisen, with a long lease available at the Lord Anson Hotel. In recent months the hotel has remained dark, with chairs stacked on tables, and no sign of activity within its walls. The two-storey hotel at 224 Anson Street has been home to popular trivia nights, a Mexican restaurant and a band room. It has a public bar, pool room, lounge/library seating, a large rear entertainment area with stage and bistro, and a first floor function room with verandah seating. There is a manager’s residence and six unrenovated hotel rooms. The Lord Anson - also known around town as the Anson and the Ted Danson - has a 24-hour licence and three poker machines, which are currently leased to another venue. Burwood's Manenti Quinlan & Associates are handling the property and say a long lease is available. The pub has a website, however there is no site menu, and the only links are to a Facebook page for an old gig and a beer appreciation society. The Orange News Examiner reported recently on the Hotel Orange being listed for sale (link below). RELATED PUB NEWS ... Robin Hood Hotel sells for nearly $50 million - about $30 million more than two years ago First step taken in multi-stage Hotel Canobolas redevelopment Hotel Orange is in a prime position, but prospective buyers will notice one thing missing Yet another Orange hotel is on the market Orange pub seeks approval for new cafe and outdoor deck Owners of Orange pub are selling up just months after buying it Orange pub withdrawn from market just months after owners put it up for sale Banned: VIP Lounge signs gone if Labor wins, as more than $700,000 a week lost on pokies in Orange

April 4, 2024 By Peter Holmes An Orange bakery-cafe-patisserie that specialises in sourdough breads, buttery pastries, pies and hearty take-home meals is to relocate. Racine - owned by Willa and Shaun Arantz - will take up residence in Orange Arcade shop left vacant by Herba Salata, sources have told The Orange News Examiner. The new premises is opposite Harris Farm Market at the southern entrance to the arcade. Letting agents have remained tight-lipped about the new tenants, but it’s believed Racine will shift from its current location - facing the Woolies car park - in May. In recent years there were plans to expand Racine from the carpark site through to Summer Street, but they never eventuated. Racine - which was also a former restaurant out of town - currently has an upstairs kitchen where savoury meals are prepared, and a site on the other side of Summer Street, a former bakery, where the popular loaves of bread and waistline-expanding pastries are baked. Meanwhile, there was activity at the former Coronet Milk Bar site on Wednesday. The premises was being cleaned out and tidied up. There was no word on a new tenant. One source said it was likely that whatever replaces the Coronet will be food-related. It’s believed the owners of the arcade - who bought the complex a couple of years ago - are keen to continue developing it as a food and drink destination, and that other premises will receive a spruce up in due season. Since buying the site, the owners have invested in new roofing and air conditioning. MORE NEWS ... Cut maximum speed to 60? Councillors vote on next step for "pretty crappy" Pinnacle Road Teen charged after allegedly threatening Orange senior constable during arrest Ford Ranger in Orange allegedly doing 150km/h in a 50km/h zone Orange festival cancelled after money dries up Orange residents fighting to keep a large modern home out of their “1970s time capsule” street Wheels in motion to change Pinnacle Road speed limits Lords Place outdoor furniture is up for grabs - but there is a catch Hotel Orange is in a prime position, but prospective buyers will notice one thing missing

April 3, 2024 By Peter Holmes The chief executive officer of Orange Ex-Services' Club has resigned, two years and seven months after starting the role. Orange residents fighting to keep a large modern home out of their “1970s time capsule” street Nathan Whiteside confirmed to The Orange News Examiner on Wednesday afternoon that he would be moving on from the club. It is understood that the board of the club was told of his decision in recent days. Whiteside said he would remain at the club until June and envisaged being able to assist the club in a smooth transfer to the next CEO. He is taking on a role with Cronulla RSL, south of the Sydney CBD. Orange Ex-Services' Club is a pokie behemoth and is open to the wee hours for gamblers. The new CEO will face pressure to meet revenue KPIs as people cut back on entertainment and dining. The club is behind the redevelopment of Wentworth Golf Club, following a devastating May 2019 fire that razed the clubhouse. Lords Place outdoor furniture is up for grabs - but there is a catch The budget for the golf club redevelopment was originally $8 million. It then blew out to $14 million, and then $20 million. The club was slated to open in late 2023 or early 2024, but it's believed it won't open until July. MORE NEWS ... Man missing from Orange: Have you seen Lucian Flash? Cut maximum speed to 60? Councillors vote on next step for "pretty crappy" Pinnacle Road Teen charged after allegedly threatening Orange senior constable during arrest Ford Ranger in Orange allegedly doing 150km/h in a 50km/h zone Orange festival cancelled after money dries up Wheels in motion to change Pinnacle Road speed limits Hotel Orange is in a prime position, but prospective buyers will notice one thing missing

April 3, 2024 By Peter Holmes Police are appealing for public assistance to locate a man missing from Orange. Lucian Flash, aged 41, was last seen on Gallipoli Place, Orange, about 5pm on Tuesday March 26, 2024. "He was reported missing to officers from Central West Police District, who have commenced inquiries into his whereabouts," said NSW Police. "Police are concerned for his welfare due to medical conditions that require treatment." Lucian is described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 180cm tall, of thin build with brown hair and brown eyes. He is known to frequent the areas of Orange and Sydney. Anyone who may have seen Lucian or has information regarding his whereabouts is urged to contact Orange Police Station or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. MORE NEWS ... Teen charged after allegedly threatening Orange senior constable during arrest Ford Ranger in Orange allegedly doing 150km/h in a 50km/h zone Orange festival cancelled after money dries up Orange residents fighting to keep a large modern home out of their “1970s time capsule” street Wheels in motion to change Pinnacle Road speed limits Lords Place outdoor furniture is up for grabs - but there is a catch Hotel Orange is in a prime position, but prospective buyers will notice one thing missing

April 2, 2024 By David Fitzsimons Orange residents will get their say on whether the speed limit on a key tourist drive should be cut to increase safety for cyclists. A proposal to reduce the speed limit on Pinnacle Road toward Mount Canobolas to 60km/h will be sent for community feedback after the matter came before Orange City Council on Tuesday night. Councillor Steve Peterson watered down his original motion to support the speed reduction, call on the state government to back the proposal and seek support from neighbouring Cabonne Shire Council, who share part of the road, to one of seeking community feedback and opinions. That will now take place through the council’s website and its Your Say function. Peterson said all users needed to be given a say. “Lots of people use that road, not just cyclists,” he said. “I think that it’s worth talking it out.” Councillors raised questions about the condition of the road, whether there had been many safety incidents involving cyclists and the actual speeds of vehicles on the road. Installing a vehicle counter device on the road was also suggested however council staff said the counters could not tell the difference between bicycles and motorbikes. Councillor Frances Kinghorne said she had checked the area over the past weekend. “It’s hard to get to 80 kilometres anyway because the road is pretty crappy,” she said. Councillor Kevin Duffy said it was important to include all residents on the road in the discussion. He also said other roads in the area were not great. “The area is not safe itself. Even coming down the mountain, Mount Canobolas or anywhere else,” he said. “They are not user-friendly for people on push bikes or even motorbikes and even in a lot of places, cars. “I think there needs to be an overhaul of the whole area, let alone that. That was one of the disappointments of not getting an amalgamation (between Orange and Cabonne councils) through.” Mayor Jason Hamling said the road condition was in question. “I think what we need to look at is the actual state of the road too,” he said. “If we are going to be promoting that as a tourist drive I think we need to (look at it). I think community consultation is the way to go.” Earlier in the meeting council agreed to defer a decision on a development application for a new house in Cadogan Crescent until after a site inspection by councillors and staff. The matter was raised by several speakers, for and against, in the open forum section of the meeting. MORE NEWS ... Orange residents fighting to keep a large modern home out of their “1970s time capsule” street Teen charged after allegedly threatening Orange senior constable during arrest Ford Ranger in Orange allegedly doing 150km/h in a 50km/h zone Orange festival cancelled after money dries up Wheels in motion to change Pinnacle Road speed limits Lords Place outdoor furniture is up for grabs - but there is a catch Hotel Orange is in a prime position, but prospective buyers will notice one thing missing

April 2, 2024 By Peter Holmes Two teenagers will face court following an investigation allegedly stolen cars in Orange over the weekend. "About 1.30am on Friday (March 29, 2024), entry was forced into a home on Hallaran Way, Orange, where keys, and a Ford Ranger were allegedly stolen," NSW Police said. "An hour later the group of youths returned to the same home and allegedly stole a Holden Acadia." About 6.10am the same day, police said they attempted to stop the Holden Acadia - driving in tandem with the Ford Ranger - after sighting it on Bathurst Road, Orange. "When it failed to stop, a pursuit was initiated and was terminated a short time later due to losing sight," police said. "About 8.30am the Ford Ranger was located in a paddock behind Raines Place, Orange, and the Holden Acadia was located abandoned in Simpson Place, Orange, about 5.30pm." Both cars were taken for forensic examination. Following inquiries, about 8.55pm on Saturday (March 30, 2024), police attended a home in Orange and arrested a 17-year-old girl. About 9pm, police attended another home in Orange and arrested a 15-year-old boy. During the arrest he allegedly threatened a senior constable. The were both taken to Orange Police Station. The girl was charged with aggravated enter dwelling with intent - knowing people there, two counts of take and drive conveyance without consent of owner, and never licensed person drive vehicle on road. The boy was charged with be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner, and Intimidate police officer in execution of duty without actual bodily harm. "The pair appeared at a children’s court on Sunday (March 31, 2024), where they were formally refused bail to appear at another children’s court on Monday April 8, 2024," police said. Inquiries are continuing. Ford Ranger in Orange allegedly doing 150km/h in a 50km/h zone INSIDE STORY: Will tougher new bail laws for teenagers make Orange a safer place to live, or just create more hardened criminals?

April 2, 2024 By Peter Holmes At about 7am on Good Friday (March 29, 2024) officers attached to Orange Traffic and Highway Patrol were "conducting inquiries into a break and enter when they attempted to stop a Ford Ranger travelling on Spring Street, Orange". "The Ford failed to stop when directed and a pursuit was initiated before being terminated shortly after due to safety concerns," NSW Police said. "The SUV was recorded doing 150km/h in a marked 50km/h speed zone," police allege. "About 8.30am, police located the Ford at a home on Raines Place, Orange, and following inquiries officers arrested a 15-year-old boy." The teen was taken to Orange Police Station and charged with "be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner and intimidate police officer in execution of duty". An outstanding warrant was also executed, police said. The teen was refused bail. Further west, at about 10.20am on Good Friday officers attached to Dubbo Traffic and Highway Patrol were patrolling the Newell Highway, Dubbo, when they stopped a Toyota HiAce "due to excessive speed". "After speaking with the driver, a 49-year-old man, officers searched the vehicle locating 33kg of cannabis," NSW Police said. "The driver was arrested and taken to Dubbo Police Station. He was charged with supply prohibited drug - commercial quantity and possess prohibited drug." The South Australian man appeared at Dubbo Local Court on Saturday (March 30, 2024), where he was formally refused bail to appear at the same court on Thursday (April 4, 2024). MORE NEWS ... Orange festival cancelled after money dries up Orange residents fighting to keep a large modern home out of their “1970s time capsule” street Wheels in motion to change Pinnacle Road speed limits Lords Place outdoor furniture is up for grabs - but there is a catch Hotel Orange is in a prime position, but prospective buyers will notice one thing missing EVEN MORE NEWS ... INSIDE STORY: Will tougher new bail laws for teenagers make Orange a safer place to live, or just create more hardened criminals? New Mukoko all a-go-go Owners of the 'salmon house' on Moulder Street pitch grand makeover. But will the paint job survive? Confusion reigns supreme, as council can't quite remember where it stands on mountain bike trails

April 2, 2024 By Peter Holmes After just two years, an Orange festival has been put on ice. The Orange Winter Jazz Festival, which was held in 2022 and 2023, attracted a number of well-known musical figures to the city, including Vince Jones, Sandy Evans, The Necks and Paul Grabowsky. Gigs were held over consecutive days in a range of venues including a church, a pub and Orange Civic Theatre, and hundreds of people bought festival passes. The event was produced by Luke Wilkinson in conjunction with Sydney Improvised Music Association (SIMA) and JAM Orange. Wilkinson told The Orange News Examiner on Tuesday that “it’s very stressful when you’ve got no money behind you”. He said that in the first year, the festival survived through a combination of ticket sales, funding from Orange City Council and arts grants. In 2023 the grant money dried up, and council’s funding and ticket sales weren’t enough to stop the festival from posting a small loss. The 2024 festival was slated to be held from Friday June 7 to Monday June 10, with ticket sales opening in November 2023. Links to booking sites had been set up, but then all went quiet. “To run a music festival we need funding,” Wilkinson said. He said that artists needed to be booked up to six months in advance, and that some headline acts required an upfront deposit to secure their services. “You’re committed to a large outlay before you’ve started, so if you don’t have money in the bank you’re in trouble. I’ve only run two jazz festivals, but I understand why other festivals are discontinuing. “We almost broke even last year, but there was a rush of ticket sales leading up to the festival. I think that, today, less people make a commitment [to buy tickets] a long time in advance.” Waiting around for last-minute sales that may or may not materialise is the stuff of nightmares for music promoters, who like to have solid box office numbers nailed down shortly after going on sale. For Wilkinson, the risk versus reward didn’t stack up in 2024. “It’s very important that you pay everybody,” he said. “If you make a loss you’ve still got to pay the artists.” Wilkinson said there was a chance the Orange Winter Jazz Festival could be resurrected in 2025, but that there would need to be significant external funding. MORE NEWS ... Orange residents fighting to keep a large modern home out of their “1970s time capsule” street Wheels in motion to change Pinnacle Road speed limits Lords Place outdoor furniture is up for grabs - but there is a catch Hotel Orange is in a prime position, but prospective buyers will notice one thing missing Launch for bee clock and laneway lights signals the end of Orange's four-year Future City art project INSIDE STORY: Will tougher new bail laws for teenagers make Orange a safer place to live, or just create more hardened criminals? Love is in the air as thousands rally in support of Orange Rainbow Festival New Mukoko all a-go-go Owners of the 'salmon house' on Moulder Street pitch grand makeover. But will the paint job survive? Confusion reigns supreme, as council can't quite remember where it stands on mountain bike trails

April 1, 2024 By Peter Holmes It’s a classic Australian home from the 1970s: red brick, tiled roof, L-shaped. The house, in a cul de sac at 5 Cadogan Crescent - off Byng Street near the CBD - sits on a 726-square-metre block, and is surrounded by several similar homes. People who own and live in those homes are now fighting to save the property at No. 5 from demolition, and protect the street from the construction of a large modern dwelling. Cadogan Crescent was built in the 1960s and by the 1970s it was filled with brand new single-storey homes. The Australian dream. According to property records the house was first traded in 1991 for $144,500. It was then off the market for 32 years, before being sold in October 2022 for $1.14 million. In August 2023 a development application (DA) was lodged by the new owners with plans to demolish the house and shed, and replace them with a double-storey, four-bedroom, three-bathroom home with double garage. The build would cost $1.2 million. Neighbours were informed and submissions were made to Orange City Council (OCC) opposing the development. There were numerous concerns - the house takes up too much of the block; the house is too high; the house restricts neighbours’ views; the house’s green space includes walled courtyards; the house layout is redacted; using a water tank for a pool is mentioned, but there is no pool in the plans; the house casts too long a shadow; a tree will be cut down; the house is not welcome in a street that is essentially a “1970s time capsule”. The 1970s red brick house with the Hills Hoist plonked in the middle of the backyard might be iconic, but they are hardly design masterpieces. Nor do they generally exhibit the craftsmanship and design details of Federation and Art Deco properties. Plenty of people want to buy a house built closer to the year 1900 than 2000 for these very reasons - the former are double-brick, have sturdy floorboards, pressed metal ceilings, stained glass windows. It’s hard to imagine as many people desiring a 1970s classic, with their single-brick construction, lino floors and lack of design features, even though they tend to be more spacious, and some even contain the indulgence of a “rumpus room”. But things are a little different on Cadogan Crescent. On this quiet little strip, people are quite happy to keep things as they are. A group of residents say approving a modern dwelling will devalue their own properties, and be a jarring addition to the landscape. The DA has been put on display twice for public comment twice. A total of 12 submissions were received during the exhibition periods. Eight were received after the first plans went public. “Issues raised in the submissions relate to dwelling design, overshadowing, privacy and views,” says the 104-page staff report to councillors. The complaints included: “Demolition and construction works will cause on street congestion and nuisance for residents.” “It is unsuitable to remove the Ash Tree street tree at the site frontage, which contributes to a planned streetscape landscape design.” “The proposal will devalue adjoining properties.” “The upper level will have visual bulk encroachment impacts and alter the outlook/neighbourhood views.” “A floor plan was not supplied for consideration by neighbours.” “Modern architecture is not in keeping with the style of Cadogan Crescent.” “Our street is a time capsule of the 1970s and worthy of preserving as such.” “The proponent makes the statement that tank water will be used ‘for topping up of pool’. The plans do not indicate a pool nor does the Environmental Effects statement. Any Pool should be subject to a DA application which is not evident.” Council staff responded to most of these claims in their report. They said street congestion will be kept to a minimum; a tree will replace the cut-down tree; devalued properties are not its concern if a DA meets planning laws; no prominent views or vistas will be impacted by the proposal; floor plans are redacted for privacy; the modern design and layout will partially honour the crescent’s historic features while also ushering in an era of gentrification and new architectural designs. “Council could consider conditional reduction of the upper level to temper localised bulk/visual impacts on outlook, however this modification is not supported by the recommendation,” staff said. The report to councillors states: “At the applicant’s request, a mediation meeting was convened between OCC staff, neighbours/submitters, applicant and landowner. “The meeting was held at the Civic Centre on 22 November 2023. The applicant / architect explained the design intent and sought to demonstrate the suitability of the design in the Cadogan Crescent streetscape. “The owner sought to justify his preference for contemporary design. The neighbours raised concerns in relation to zero boundary setback to the west, overshadowing, overlooking, view loss and construction impacts. “The applicant was invited to submit amended plans to address the issues raised in the public submissions and mediation. Amended plans were subsequently submitted. The amendments involved: • Increased setbacks to the western boundary (minimum 900mm) and eastern boundary (minimum 900mm and 3,000mm); • Privacy hoods to first floor windows on the western façade; and • Reduced floor height (270mm) and roof height (105mm). Amended plans were submitted in January 2024. Four more submissions were received after the mediation. “Although the proponent claims 50% of the site is open space this is only achievable by three walled courtyards: entrance courtyard, Eastern Courtyard and Western Courtyard.” “It is not in keeping with our 1970s-style crescent.” “The current ambiance of the street is single storey houses of brick and brick veneer with gable roofs constructed in the 1960s and 70s and in accordance with the Deeds issued by Hedley and Jeanette Taylor when they undertook the subdivision of this street.” “The internal Courtyards do not in any way add to the neighbourhood character and appearance and do not add to open space generally as typified by most Orange residences with open backyards. In particular the nature of this development is completely out of character for this street with large backyards that allow children and residents to relax, garden, barbecue and play at the rear of their houses.” The issues raised by neighbours may have led to alterations to the plans, but ultimately they failed to sway OCC staff into rejecting the proposal. The staff report concluded “impacts of the development will be within acceptable limit, subject to mitigation conditions. There are no aspects of the development site that are unsuitable for the proposal. Approval is recommended”. Following on the from the staff report came a report from an OCC director, which “acknowledged that the proposal is a contemporary design in an established area”. But, it added: “Just because the proposal is two-storey, is not a reason to withhold support for the development … It is considered that the issues and concerns raised by neighbours have been adequately taken into account and the outcome is a reasonable infill development. The staff recommendation of Approval is supported.” Elected councillors will be able to have their say on Tuesday night. It is expected residents of Cadogan Crescent will be in attendance. MORE NEWS Wheels in motion to change Pinnacle Road speed limits Lords Place outdoor furniture is up for grabs - but there is a catch Hotel Orange is in a prime position, but prospective buyers will notice one thing missing Launch for bee clock and laneway lights signals the end of Orange's four-year Future City art project INSIDE STORY: Will tougher new bail laws for teenagers make Orange a safer place to live, or just create more hardened criminals? New Mukoko all a-go-go

March 29, 2024 By Peter Holmes A 9km stretch of road from the south of the city to the border with Cabonne Shire Council is currently a mix of 50km/h, 60km/h and 80km/h zones. But Orange City councillor Steve Peterson wants a uniform speed of 60km/h “to improve the safety of cyclists and other road users”. Peterson will move a motion at Tuesday night’s meeting asking his fellow councillors to endorse a proposal to have the maximum speed limit dropped and the minimum speed limit increased. He is seeking their support for “the revision of the speed limit to 60km/h on Pinnacle Road for its entire length within the Orange LGA, to improve the safety of cyclists and other road users”. This would involve writing to Transport for NSW (TfNSW) to “formally request the speed review” and seeking “Cabonne Council support for the same speed reduction consideration”. As background to the motion, Peterson said: “This was originally proposed as an Action through the bicycle committee (Wallace Lane to the bends below snow line). TfNSW alone have the power to review and implement speed zones in NSW.” Peterson said that “staff discussions with TfNSW indicate in-principle support for full length of road review”. He said the Pinnacle Road “environment” would benefit from speed limit changes as it has “narrow seal in sections, sharp bends, distracting views, wineries, lots of property accesses, difficult and busy Shiralee Road intersection”. In response to Peterson’s motion, staff said: “Pinnacle Road goes from 50 to 80 on the southern limits of the city past the Canobolas Road intersection. There is a temporary 60 speed limit at the Shiralee Road intersection returning to 80 then back to 60 for 1200m either side of the Orange / Cabonne LGA boundary.” Staff said Peterson’s proposal “goes beyond what was asked by the Bicycle Committee (Wallace Lane to the bends below the snow line)”. “There are a number of commercial, agricultural, tourism, residential and other users of the road besides the Bicycle Committee.” Ouch. Staff said Orange and Cabonne councils had discussed the matter and Transport for NSW had given “in principle support of a review”. But, it said, “it may be prudent to seek wider community support for such a review”. “There [are] no financial implications in seeking a review, and a modest cost of implementing the speed restriction, if that is the result of the review, that would be funded from the signs budget.” They said that unlike Lucknow, which recently reverted from a 60km/h zone to its previous 50km/h limit, “this is a totally new proposal and as such it may be best to defer such a review for Community Consultation through the YourSay site”. Lords Place outdoor furniture is up for grabs - but there is a catch Hotel Orange is in a prime position, but prospective buyers will notice one thing missing Launch for bee clock and laneway lights signals the end of Orange's four-year Future City art project INSIDE STORY: Will tougher new bail laws for teenagers make Orange a safer place to live, or just create more hardened criminals? Love is in the air as thousands rally in support of Orange Rainbow Festival New Mukoko all a-go-go Owners of the 'salmon house' on Moulder Street pitch grand makeover. But will the paint job survive? Confusion reigns supreme, as council can't quite remember where it stands on mountain bike trails Death threat made to Orange Aquatic Centre staff during summer free entry period Hands up who remembers going to Orange's Trinity Preschool?

March 28, 2024 By Peter Holmes The opportunity to get your hands on a little piece of Orange history has arisen as Orange City Council (OCC) moves to rehome outdoor furniture from the disastrous Lords Place south redevelopment. The items are: • 10 concrete chairs • 17 concrete blocks • 12 pot plants • 6 shade structures • 4 round chairs • 8 chairs • 6 dining decks OCC is calling for Expressions of Interest from the business community to reuse furniture removed from the Lords Place south upgrade. “It is costly for businesses to buy this kind of furniture and we would like to offer local businesses the opportunity to give it a go, free of charge,” Orange mayor Jason Hamling said. “Everyone is welcome to apply for any of the furniture listed below, however priority will be given to  CBD business applicants.” So, if businesses don't take up the offer, there's a chance you could find yourself with a new concrete chair, or a shade structure, in the backyard. There is a catch, however. "The items would be effectively on loan from council for one year then subject to review," OCC said. "The items would remain council’s property, while it would be the responsibility of the successful applicant to maintain the items and repair if damaged." Hamling said "this could be a great asset for businesses around town and provide an opportunity for a business to  develop or expand. It’s important that when businesses submit their applications, they provide a clear site plan showing where the furniture will be placed on public space.” The criteria for the Expression of Interest includes: • Applicant details, name/business name, address and contact information. • What item(s) and number of those item(s) have been identified for reuse? • The site for reuse including site plan. • What impact might the reuse have, for example, effect on parking, access and pedestrian or vehicle movements? • What is the public purpose and how will the item(s) enhance the site? • Commitment to the ongoing maintenance and repair of the item(s). • Will the item’s placement compromise community safety? • Proof of public liability insurance. Depending on the site, some installations might be subject to planning approval. Expressions of interest are now open and lodgements close at 5pm on 26 April 26, 2024. More information here. MORE NEWS ... Hotel Orange is in a prime position, but prospective buyers will notice one thing missing Launch for bee clock and laneway lights signals the end of Orange's four-year Future City art project INSIDE STORY: Will tougher new bail laws for teenagers make Orange a safer place to live, or just create more hardened criminals? Love is in the air as thousands rally in support of Orange Rainbow Festival EVEN MORE NEWS ... New Mukoko all a-go-go Owners of the 'salmon house' on Moulder Street pitch grand makeover. But will the paint job survive? Confusion reigns supreme, as council can't quite remember where it stands on mountain bike trails Death threat made to Orange Aquatic Centre staff during summer free entry period Hands up who remembers going to Orange's Trinity Preschool?

March 27, 2024 By Peter Holmes The sale of the Hotel Orange on the corner of Summer and Peisley streets presents an interesting challenge both for the selling agents and whoever buys it. At surface level the pub - known to many as "The HO" - has got everything going for it. It stands sentry at the eastern edge of the CBD, an imposing, 130-year-old grand dame constructed decades before Orange saw electricity and motor vehicles. It was previously known as the Federal Hotel, the Empire Hotel and the Tourist Hotel, before settling on its current name in 2007. In terms of street traffic, it's unlikely another other intersection in the city - or perhaps the Central West - sees as much activity. The value in being able to promote events on the hotel's exterior as people wait at the lights would be worth at least tens of thousands of dollars a year. Ahead of the last federal election in 2022, MP for Calare Andrew Gee knew the importance of having his smiling dial beaming out at everyone who entered the city from the east's main artery. To this end, he was spotted weeks before the vote clambering around the Hotel Orange's first floor awning, attaching a large corflute. Asked at the time by The Orange News Examiner how he managed to wangle such a prime position, he said: "I just asked." The pub is spread across two floors, has a kitchen and dining room, an expansive open bar area, outdoor seating, a handful of accommodation rooms, and a nightclub with bar, DJ booth and dancefloor. There is also an office fronting Summer Street. It has a late trading licence, which allows people to tumble out the nightclub doors at 2:30am on weekends, demolish a kebab from Ali's and be home in bed by 3:30am. On the flipside, the Hotel Orange has no electronic gaming machine licences, which makes it just one of two such pubs in the city (the other being the Carriers Arms). While the owners of these two venues can rest easy in the knowledge that they're not adding to the city's considerable gambling woes - the pubs and clubs of Orange make more than $100,000 a day in pokie profits - it makes producing an agreeable bottom line all the more difficult. Pokie money is easy money, because it preys on people's weakness. It's money earned in an unfair fight. And it's lazy money. It's so much easier to jam a few dozen pokies into a room than it is to - for example - have regular live entertainment beyond local acoustic acts singing covers, which requires a booking agent, posters, security, support acts, band riders, promotions. Why take the risk when you have pokies, where the owner always wins? Whoever buys The HO will either have to try and buy pokie licences from other venues, or develop a plan for turning the hotel into a hive of activity during the day and at night. One former Central West publican, who requested anonymity, said that as a rule of thumb, each poker machine inside a pub is worth about $1 million to its sale price. Twenty pokies means $20 million plus land and building value. A pub's value was once based on how many kegs of beer it sold each week, but those days are long gone. The source said it was possible new owners of the Hotel Orange would close it as a pub and reopen it as office space upstairs and retail downstairs. "There are a number of options - you could also look at focusing on accommodation, or make the whole thing offices," they said. The pub currently does not open seven days a week. Parking is also an issue - on Peisley Street daytime parking is for one hour, and on Summer Street just 30 minutes. Given the rapid turnover of vehicles wanting to shop at the Vietnamese restaurant and takeaway, the kebab shop, the newsagent and the bakery, it is unlikely any extension to parking limits would be considered. There is, however, a car park behind Peisley Street Chickens and one over the road behind the Parkview Hotel. "The thing is, the car parks are not for sale," the source said. Another hotel industry insider, who also spoke on the condition of anonymity, told The Orange News Examiner that although Hotel Orange's patronage wasn't as high as it could be, its location and the fact it has undergone such a significant refit could work well in its favour. "You can build a crowd," they said. "That's easier than having to renovate. If you have a choice between renovated with a smaller clientele, or unrenovated with a larger clientele, take the renovated." The selling agents were approached with a request for a rough price estimate. They declined, saying they would let expressions of interest (EOIs) guide the way. Such is the challenge of pricing a striking, prime position site that doesn't have the poker machine revenue on tap. The current owner of the Hotel Orange, Vijay Bohra, bought the pub from local construction tsar Mick Fabar, who runs Mick Fabar Constructions and Green Homes Australia. Fabar - who holds the Guinness World Record for the greatest number of hits of a speedball in one minute (447 in 2008) - bought the pub in 2006. The refurbishment was done around 2008-2009. Fabar bought the hotel from Orange's "Mr Real Estate" Chris Gryllis. Fabar, whose parents were pub veterans and ran the Hotel Orange, told The Orange News Examiner that when the family owned it, the pub had "a strong trade, stable clientele, and I think it was a valuable addition to the entertainment in Orange". He said that when he sold the pub to Bohra about six years ago, the businessman didn't want to buy the poker machine licences, which were sold separately to the Metropolitan Hotel on the corner of Anson and Byng streets. While the Lord Anson hotel on Anson Street has shut up shop (it had a handful of poker machine licences), other pubs in the city appear to be holding their own in difficult financial times. In early 2021 the MPK group sold five Central West hotels including Orange's Royal Hotel for a reported total sum of $75 million. The others were Dudley Hotel (Bathurst), Castlereagh Hotel (Dubbo), and Federal Hotels in Wellington and Mudgee. In November 2021 hotel magnate Arthur Laundy and two co-investors sold the Canobolas Hotel for $25 million to the Sukkar family, owners of construction group Buildcorp. In February 2023 the Robin Hood Hotel was offloaded for nearly $50 million. Sold through HTL Property in 2020 to the Marlow Group for around $19 million, the pub underwent extensive renovations before being put back on the market. These included a new bistro and indoor kids playground, new beer gardens and additional car parking. The 2023 Robin Hood Hotel sale was again conducted by HTL Property. Orange publicans Tim Ireson (Ophir Hotel) and Ben Cochrane (Parkview Hotel) are part of the group behind the purchase of the Robin Hood. The Orange News Examiner sought comment from Chris Gryllis and Vijay Bohra. Hotel Orange is for sale by Leonard Bongiovanni and Jeremy Cusack of Manenti Quinlan and Associates via Expression of Interest closing on Wednesday April 24, 2024. MORE NEWS ... INSIDE STORY: Will tougher new bail laws for teenagers make Orange a safer place to live, or just create more hardened criminals? Love is in the air as thousands rally in support of Orange Rainbow Festival New Mukoko all a-go-go Owners of the 'salmon house' on Moulder Street pitch grand makeover. But will the paint job survive? Confusion reigns supreme, as council can't quite remember where it stands on mountain bike trails Death threat made to Orange Aquatic Centre staff during summer free entry period Hands up who remembers going to Orange's Trinity Preschool?