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February 22, 2024 By Peter Holmes For just a few moments, there was a frisson of excitement. Orange City Council (OCC) had lodged a development application (DA) with itself for upgrades to Colour City Caravan Park. The mind ran wild. A resort pool with spa? A games room with a movie screen? Mini-golf? Jumping pillows? Alas, the reality was far more mundane. All OCC wanted to do was add one accommodation cabin (up from 15 to 16) and remove “parts” of the hedge that bordered the park site on Leeds Parade and Margaret Street, to be replaced with a 2.1-metre-tall fence. The wait for a 4-star holiday park in Orange would continue. Probably for some time. Orange is home to two caravan parks - the OCC-operated Colour City Caravan Park next to the showground precinct, and the privately-owned Canobolas Caravan Park on Bathurst Road. Both are old-school caravan parks that hark back to another era. They are reasonably priced and clean, but lack the facilities offered by many other parks in NSW. Canobolas Caravan Park has been in the family for around 60 years, Lee Mackenzie told The Orange News Examiner. The family also operated Canobolas Caravan & Marine Centre, and the park is behind the retail operation. Mackenzie said he would love to be able to invest the massive amount of money required to take Canobolas Caravan Park from a 3.5-star facility to one that earns 4 stars or more, but that it was not feasible. “It’s a lot of money,” he said. “A decent cabin is $100,000. You put in jumping pillows and playgrounds and your insurance goes through the roof. "Building and maintaining a pool is very expensive, especially when you couldn’t use it for seven months of the year.” There was no guarantee any extra cabins and caravan spaces would be booked solidly enough year-round to generate the required return on the investment in infrastructure and facilities. Mackenzie said Orange attracted a lot of people from outside the area - including sub contractors working on the Mitchell Highway and at the mine, and families attending sporting events - but that often subbies preferred to stay in motels near town, and sporting events generally only filled the park on weekends. He said that it would take a company such as NRMA or Big4 to buy a site such as his and tip in the money required to build a destination park, where families could be entertained all day without leaving the site. “If they want to come and talk to me, I’m here,” he said with a laugh. Mackenzie had recently spent $70,000 retarring the roads in the park, which was a cosmetic improvement so that “the park looked nice when people came in”. That’s a lot of cabin and caravan nights you need to sell to recoup. One retired businessman in Orange told us that he had tried more than 20 years ago to build a business case for a more upmarket caravan park in the city, but that he could never make the numbers work. Too many outgoings, not enough revenue. A map of NRMA holiday parks shows that water is where the action is. Parks hug the East Coast, where the natural attractions of beaches and lakes do much of the heavy lifting in terms of keeping holidaymakers amused. There are two NRMA Holiday Parks in the NSW Central West, in Bathurst and Dubbo. Both are 4-star. Bathurst has a pool with waterslide, a mini-golf course, games room with giant screen, kiosk, camp kitchen and playground. Dubbo has a pool, camp kitchen, e-bikes, bouncing pillow, glamping, basketball and a playground. There is a Big4 Holiday Park in Mudgee, which has a pool, games room, jumping pillow and playground. Council’s Colour City Caravan Park is rated 3-star overall, but says its cabins are 2.5 stars. It is a basic offering, with no bells and whistles. Bookings are made the old-fashioned way (telephone or email) and it lists its features as: Full laundry facilities and clothes lines Linen hire Camp Kitchen Dump Station LPG Swap ‘n’ Go WiFi Canobolas Caravan Park lists its facilities as: Dump Point Full Laundry Clothes Lines Disabled Amenities Large Sites For RV/motor Homes Free BBQs, undercover area Gas bottle exchange Linen hire Concrete slabs and grassed powered sites Drive Through Sites Covered Picnic Benches Pets welcome (no pets in cabin or cottage area) Mackenzie can’t see any reason why a more upmarket holiday park wouldn’t work in Orange, given the city’s growth and the number of workers who only need to stay for a few nights or a few weeks. We compared prices at all five parks - two in Orange, one each on Dubbo, Mudgee and Bathurst - using a two-night stay (check in Friday April 19, check out Sunday April 21) in a one-bedroom cabin as a guide. Colour City Caravan Park - $250 Canobolas Caravan Park - $290 Big4 Mudgee - $358 NRMA Bathurst Panorama Holiday Park - $334 (April 12-14, 19-21 unavailable, based on Friday April 26 to Sunday April 28). NRMA Dubbo Holiday Park - $390 (April 19-21 unavailable, based on Friday April 12 to Sunday April 14) NRMA Holiday Parks told The Orange News Examiner: "We currently don’t have plans for [a park in Orange] but are always looking at our options for our members to holiday at." MORE NEWS ... Heading to Sydney for Tay Tay? Cops say they'll be "firm but fair" to ensure fan safety With nearly $2 million down the sink, what's another $25,000? Independent Lords Place review backed by councillors “My baby could have had a chance to come home”: Orange mum's plea for $165 suction device in schools, daycare and sporting clubs “Massive waste of money”: Councillors to vote on Tuesday on independent Lords Place Orange Christians lobby councillors to withdraw support for Rainbow Festival, claiming youth "enticed into its tentacles" Brown water gushing down Peisley Street The Orange News Examiner needs your support so we can keep informing our city. You can make a one-off donation or a small monthly pledge at Patreon or PayPal. Or you can ... Thank you to those who have already chipped in. Meanwhile, if you run a business, you can reach around 12,000 people a month by advertising with us. Phone O4O8 427 786. TAKE ME TO ... REAL ESTATE INSIDE STORY / FEATURES POLICE & CRIME COMMUNITY BUSINESS COUNCIL POLITICS THE HOME PAGE

February 21, 2024 By Peter Holmes Given the queue for tickets at Orange Civic Theatre late last year, a healthy contingent of Orange residents will be making their way to Sydney in coming days for Taylor Swift's run of four dates at Sydney Olympic Park's Accor Stadium. Swift plays four consecutive nights, from this Friday February 23, 2024 to Monday February 26, 2024. All shows are sold out. More than 40 songs are included in the three-hour show. “Anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated, and police will act in a fair but firm manner to ensure everyone has a good time but not at the expense of other people’s safety, so take care of one another," said operation commander, acting assistant commissioner Andrew Holland. "A high visibility policing operation will be in place for the duration of the event to ensure the safety and security of all event staff, attendees, and the wider community," said NSW Police. Holland said to concertgoers need "to plan their trips to avoid any last-minute stress". “Extra transport services will be made available this weekend and we encourage concertgoers to utilise them,” he said. “With large crowds moving in and around the stadium, those who do not have a ticket are urged to stay away from the Sydney Olympic Park precinct to avoid creating unnecessary congestion.” Police said drones are not permitted to be operated within Sydney Olympic Park for the duration of the police operation "and breaching these rules can lead to fines, or even gaol". “We'd prefer that everyone avoids these penalties and instead has a safe and enjoyable time at the concerts said Holland. For more information on travelling to and from the event and to plan your trip, visit www.transportnsw.info. GET TO AND FROM TAYLOR SWIFT CONCERT SAFELY Driver Fatigue Week is on from February 21 to 27, 2024. NSW minister for regional transport and roads Jenny Aitchison urged drivers not to get behind the wheel at times when they would normally be asleep. “Fatigue is one of the leading causes of deaths on our roads and in 2023 it contributed to 16 percent of fatalities,” Jenny Aitchison said. “The best way to avoid driving tired is to make sure you have a good night’s sleep before getting behind the wheel and to avoid driving at times when your body would naturally sleep, like late at night or early morning. “I urge any driver who notices themselves yawning, being restless or struggling with sore eyes to pull over in a safe place, stretch your legs and have a power nap before driving again.” As well as planning ahead to make sure driving happens at a time when a person is not tired, the campaign promotes the concept of the 15–20-minute power nap. A power nap is a short sleep that terminates before deep sleep. It improves concentration and situation awareness. The Power Nap campaign has developed free resources for workplaces, community groups and individuals to use to promote National Driver Fatigue Week. The communications toolkit is available at the Power Nap website at: powernap.org.au/resources/ MORE NEWS ... “My baby could have had a chance to come home”: Orange mum's plea for $165 suction device in schools, daycare and sporting clubs “Massive waste of money”: Councillors to vote on Tuesday on independent Lords Place Orange Christians lobby councillors to withdraw support for Rainbow Festival, claiming youth "enticed into its tentacles" Brown water gushing down Peisley Street Orange Rainbow Festival to feature street parade, disco, drag queen competition and storytime What would it take for you to rent out a spare room? Orange City Council would like to know The Orange News Examiner needs your support so we can keep informing our city. You can make a one-off donation or a small monthly pledge at Patreon or PayPal. Or you can ... Thank you to those who have already chipped in. Meanwhile, if you run a business, you can reach around 12,000 people a month by advertising with us. Phone O4O8 427 786. TAKE ME TO ... REAL ESTATE INSIDE STORY / FEATURES POLICE & CRIME COMMUNITY BUSINESS COUNCIL POLITICS THE HOME PAGE

February 20, 2024 By David Fitzsimons An independent review into how nearly $2 million of public money was spent on the failed, short-lived Lords Place south redevelopment will be held. Amid comments including “debacle”, “great financial loss” and “the buck stops with us”, Orange City Council voted for the investigation on Tuesday night. The review is set to add a further $20,000-$25,000 to the money that has already been spent on removing car parking spaces, cutting down trees, planting new ones, buying and installing street furniture including giant pots and much-criticised footpath painting and then getting rid of most of it. It was a key part of Orange’s overall FutureCity program to reinvigorate the CBD. Councillor Frances Kinghorne, who led the call for the review, said council needed to learn from the project’s failures. “Essentially we got this wrong at great financial loss,” she said. Kinghorne said council was told the project would be a trial but that had not been the case in practice, with the previous situation only partially restored. Councillor Steve Peterson said community support for the project had been “overestimated”. Councillor Jeff Whitton said the councillors were responsible for “99.5 percent” of council decision making: “Ultimately the buck stops with us." Individuals should not be blamed in the report, said councillor Melanie McDonell. "Council staff have copped an awful lot of abuse specifically about Lords Place south, since it was done,” she said. “And my concern is that this will be that, but on steroids. "Can we just make sure we are aware of that particularly when the findings are made public that we really don’t blame or target any individual.” However, councillor Tony Mileto said the public needed to know what happened. “Regardless of whether those findings are positive or negative they still need to be brought out. People need to know what went wrong” he said. Deputy mayor Gerald Power spoke against the review but later voted for it. He said there had been plenty of public consultation, reports and meetings to inform people what was proposed. However, he said the project had not been given a fair go. “We say we gave it a chance, I’m sorry sir, I have to disagree,” he said. “This thing down here lasted less than six months, less than six months, and then it was dismantled. So how can we say that we gave it a chance?” Councillor Kevin Duffy said at least one businessman’s concerns about the project had been “shut down” during public discussions. “The whole FutureCity on this area has been an absolute failure,” he said. “What do we hope to achieve? We made the decisions, you can’t go and blame the staff.” Councillor David Mallard backed the review and said he believed Lords Place south would become a desirable area for people once the trees mature. “They are going to be amazing in time and I’m still confident that at some point there is going to be more street furniture going back in down there, it might be a decade away,” he said. The review was voted for unanimously by council. Later in the meeting up to $5 million of other FutureCity projects were deferred for council to be given further information. They included spending up to $2.2 million on improving Orange’s car parks – without adding any additional spaces. Meanwhile, Duffy threatened to try and derail the forthcoming Orange Rainbow Festival if it was found any Orange City Council money had gone towards funding an event called Rainbow Storytime. The Orange News Examiner reported on a Rainbow Storytime event at Orange Library last September. MORE NEWS ... “My baby could have had a chance to come home”: Orange mum's plea for $165 suction device in schools, daycare and sporting clubs “Massive waste of money”: Councillors to vote on Tuesday on independent Lords Place Orange Christians lobby councillors to withdraw support for Rainbow Festival, claiming youth "enticed into its tentacles" Brown water gushing down Peisley Street Orange Rainbow Festival to feature street parade, disco, drag queen competition and storytime What would it take for you to rent out a spare room? Orange City Council would like to know Farraway quits as shadow minister to focus on Central West Skating on thin ice: Mileto calls for action on motorbike pests Orange's 24/7 deep freeze to go before council A story about our city ... During the day Orange's Bowen Community Technology Centre offers a free service to those who mightn't have a computer, printer or internet access. They might help with a resume, or to contact a government agency. In the afternoon dozens of primary school kids descend on the centre to get stuck into their homework. They also may not have access to technology at home. Education is crucial in preparing the next generation to face the modern world. Orange City Council kindly donates the building. The woman behind this valuable community service is Paula Townsend. When there is enough money in the kitty, she is paid minimum wage. When there is not, she pays herself nothing. But she always turns up. Even in school holidays, just to make sure the kids stay on the straight and narrow and have somewhere to go. The stress of running a community centre on occasional grants and donations - mostly for equipment , office supplies and insurances, not a minimum wage - is considerable. Paula has been doing this for years. The bucket has a hole in it and there is never enough water to fill it up. She is no pushover - these computers are for work, not games - but when you spend time at the centre, you see the love the kids have for her, and she for them. When adults have access to computers, documents and printers - something many of us take for granted - their worlds can open up. When kids can learn and get their homework done, their worlds open up too. If you or your business are willing to help Paula Townsend, please click on the link below. - Peter Holmes, Editor, The Orange News Examiner The Orange News Examiner needs your support so we can keep informing our city. You can make a one-off donation or a small monthly pledge at Patreon or PayPal. Or you can ... Thank you to those who have already chipped in. Meanwhile, if you run a business, you can reach around 12,000 people a month by advertising with us. Phone O4O8 427 786. TAKE ME TO ... REAL ESTATE INSIDE STORY / FEATURES POLICE & CRIME COMMUNITY BUSINESS COUNCIL POLITICS THE HOME PAGE

February 20, 2024 By Peter Holmes The mother of Decklan Hayward - the seven-year-old boy who died after choking on a cocktail frankfurt in Orange last July - is backing a campaign to have suction devices placed in local schools, daycares and sporting clubs. Decklan was eating the frankfurt at Glenroi Heights Public School on July 19, 2023. His mum Katrina Hayward has endorsed a move by Orange councillor Tammy Greenhalgh to press for single-use suction devices known as LifeVacs to be located around the city. “I feel personally about this proposal as I sent my darling seven year old boy to school and he never came home,” Katrina Hayward wrote in a letter to councillors. “Decklan was a happy, healthy, kind little boy who was just sitting with his friends eating like any other day, when he tragically choked, despite all efforts of the staff trained in first aid. “Back blows were unable to dislodge the obstruction in his throat, which resulted in Decklan going into cardiac arrest despite all efforts of CPR and back blows from six trained teachers working together. “Decklan was without oxygen to his brain for fifteen minutes before first responders attended the scene, even with their efforts the obstruction remained lodged for over two hours and Decklan couldn't receive oxygen properly until he underwent for surgery to remove the cocktail frankfurt.” Hayward said the result was that Decklan suffered “severe brain injuries” and could not be saved. “I believe if training and this device [had] been schools my baby could have had a chance to come home. "I believe more research should have been done after another child from the LGA had passed away due to choking on a cocktail frankfurt six months before the incident with Decklan happened.” Councillor Greenhalgh will move a motion at Tuesday night’s council meeting (February 20, 2024): “That Orange City Council resolves to: Advocate for the supply and introduction of LifeVac devices in all NSW Schools/ Childcare Centres by lobbying our Local and State members for funding for the LifeVac Devices. Encourage all local sporting clubs to consider including them as a must have in addition to a defibrillator as part of their first aid toolkit. Write to Prue Car, Deputy Premier, Minister for Education and Early Learning in support of this initiative.” The councillor said that at $165 each, the devices were “relatively inexpensive … I believe this is a very small investment to potentially prevent the death of a child in our community, or any community for that matter, and to provide peace of mind to childcare workers and teachers”. She said there were more than 700 children in Orange enrolled in preschool programs, “without taking into account, our schools and sporting groups”. "I know that many of you will think this is not a Local Government issue, but we need to start somewhere to encourage change, and as it had affected two people in our community in the last 12 months, we have a duty to do something," Greenhalgh said. State MP for Orange Phil Donato has also backed the call for suction devices to be introduced around the community. “I understand the critical importance of having effective emergency response tools in our community, especially in educational and recreational settings,” Donato said in a letter of support. “The necessity of such devices in our community is underscored by the unfortunate reality of choking hazards, particularly in schools and sports facilities. “The significance of this issue is highlighted by the heartbreaking instances within the Orange City Council area where lives could potentially have been saved with the availability of a LifeVac device.” Councillor Steve Peterson, a GP, told The Orange News Examiner he would support the motion. “My family has purchased one of these devices,” he said. “Inexpensive, and in my point of view, unlikely to make a situation worse.” LifeVac is one of a number of suction devices on the market. The increase in their popularity has led to unregulated look-alike products being manufactured. There is debate about the value of endorsing suction devices, as opposed to promoting traditional methods of dislodging items stuck in the throat/windpipe. Government-funded information service HealthDirect has information here on choking and how to react. It is claimed suction devices can on rare occasions cause physical damage such as collapsed lungs, and do not successfully dislodge all items. The opposing view is that although they aren’t 100 percent successful, they generally do work and have saved many lives. One difficulty in researching and assessing the devices is that scientific testing can only be conducted on manikins and human cadavers, not people in genuine choking conditions. In a Q&A on its website, LifeVac said that in the US the device “is FDA [Food and Drug Administration] registered as a Class II medical device. "It is exempt from pre-market clearance. The FDA does not require a pre-market review of the LifeVac device. Currently, in the United States, all portable suction devices are required to be registered with the FDA, not approved”. In Australia the Therapeutic Goods Administration lists the LifeVac as a Class 1 device. “Devices of this classification are considered to be low-risk and do not require conformity assessment certification before they can be included in the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG),” said the TGA. The Orange City Council agenda papers included an advertisement run by LifeVac in which it claims "teachers in NSW still rely on ineffective first aid measures" and that "correspondence to the NSW Education Minister has been ignored". MORE NEWS ... “Massive waste of money”: Councillors to vote on Tuesday on independent Lords Place Orange Christians lobby councillors to withdraw support for Rainbow Festival, claiming youth "enticed into its tentacles" Brown water gushing down Peisley Street Orange Rainbow Festival to feature street parade, disco, drag queen competition and storytime What would it take for you to rent out a spare room? Orange City Council would like to know Farraway quits as shadow minister to focus on Central West Skating on thin ice: Mileto calls for action on motorbike pests Orange's 24/7 deep freeze to go before council 'No it's not a scam' ... Orange couple scoops $10 million lottery win The Orange News Examiner needs your support so we can keep informing our city. You can make a one-off donation or a small monthly pledge at Patreon or PayPal. Or you can ... Thank you to those who have already chipped in. Meanwhile, if you run a business, you can reach around 12,000 people a month by advertising with us. Phone O4O8 427 786. TAKE ME TO ... REAL ESTATE INSIDE STORY / FEATURES POLICE & CRIME COMMUNITY BUSINESS COUNCIL POLITICS THE HOME PAGE

February 17, 2024 By Peter Holmes A group of conservative Orange Christians - calling itself the Orange Christian Alliance - is engaged in a campaign to have Orange City Council (OCC) reverse its support for the Orange Rainbow Festival in March. The festival is on March 22 to 24, 2024. “It will embrace diversity, foster acceptance and inclusivity, and support our young LGBTQIA+ community to be themselves,” said council. The Orange Christian Alliance consists of five Orange-based Christians. Its spokesperson Kris Dhillon told The Orange News Examiner the five people represented 500 to 600 local Christians. [Expanded interview with Kris Dhillon below.] In letters to mayor Jason Hamling, the other 11 Orange councillors and state MP Phil Donato, the alliance says “transgender ideology is an affront to the Creator God but it is also an extremely harmful ideology for those who are enticed into its tentacles by the widespread and aggressive rhetoric of the transgender campaigners”. It alleges OCC is “supporting the celebration of gender confused youth”. “Our opposition to events such as the ‘Rainbow Festival’ comes from the knowledge that it is doing our children harm,” it said in one letter. “Our hearts break for them and their parents who are distraught trying to save their children from irreversible medical harm and from ideological indoctrination that is usurping their ability to think logically, to reason, and to function in society.” The alliance said “children’s brains are simply not mature enough to assess risk and give informed consent (to transitioning). Furthermore, they are easily influenced by seeing what their peers are doing and following along with it”. In an interview with The Orange News Examiner Dhillon claimed young people were being lured into sinful “lifestyles” via peer pressure and indoctrination from ideological forces. She said that all psychologists who met with children exhibiting possible signs of gender dysphoria went on to endorse the child transitioning, but was unable to supply evidence to back this allegation. She also claimed that a “large majority” of children with gender dysphoria “had mental and social issues that are never addressed”. Dhillon pointed to a more cautious approach adopted by some European nations when dealing with minors as evidence the tide was turning. She said there was “no data” to show the impact of transitioning on those under 18, however there has been research [see below]. “There’s nothing wrong with providing psychological support to children that feel that way until you've determined what exactly it is that is going on, and you’ve determined the effects of what your therapy is going to to be.” Melbourne Royal Children’s Hospital paediatrician, associate professor Ken Pang, said most of 900 trans youth surveyed by the hospital lacked family support and had experienced bullying and discrimination, “which are likely to be important drivers of mental ill-health along with gender dysphoria”. “There is sometimes a misconception that young people come into our service and walk away with a script for hormones after one or two sessions,” Pang said. “In reality, young people and their families are typically supported by a multidisciplinary team over many years. In a lot of instances, young people and their parents tell us how lifesaving the service has been.” Dhillon claimed that “the power of prayer” had been banned in Victoria as part of anti-conversion therapy measures, although this is disputed. The Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission (VEOHRC) states: “The Act does not prohibit prayer and religious practices, except when they amount to a change or suppression practice. Your private prayer with your God can continue.” Conversion therapy involves “practices that intend to forcibly change a person's sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression”, according to Victoria Police, which encourages people to report such practices. Other states and territories have either instituted similar laws or have said they are working on legislation to ban conversion therapy. The NSW government says it is planning to address the issue. In a Q&A the VEOHRC states: “It is against the law to try to change or suppress someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity, even if they ask for help.” Under the heading of “Pastoral care: Someone seeks advice from you about their sexual orientation or gender identity”, it says that “Conversations risk causing deep harm and being a change and suppression practice when they are conducted for the purpose of changing or suppressing a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity, for example by telling people: how they should feel about themselves who they should have sexual relations with that their gender identity is not real or acceptable. “You should consider the power you hold within your position and the impact of this in your discussion. “The individual may feel tension and fear rejection if they are asked to choose between their faith and their sexual orientation or gender identity. There is evidence that this ultimatum leads to harm.” The ABC has told the story of three people who underwent conversion therapy. You can watch it here. In one lobbying letter to council Orange Christian Alliance urged: “Let us give these young people the support they truly need; mental health support delivered by true medical professionals.” And although Orange Christian Alliance views non-heterosexual relationships as a sin, it endorsed quotes from the anti-trans group LGB Alliance (Lesbian, gay, bisexual adults) in its correspondence with councillors. The centrepiece of the Orange Rainbow Festival will be a street parade on Saturday March 23, 2024. The parade will start at 1pm and culminate in markets, live music, Pride Pets, Rainbow Storytime and a local drag queen competition at Robertson Park. Events include: Drag Bingo at The Greenhouse of Orange (18+, March 22 at 7pm); Street disco in McNamara Street with live music, DJ, food stalls, drag queens and street performers (18+, March 23 at 7pm); Brunch with the Queens at Groundstone Café (15+, March 24 at 10am). The festival is hosted by the Orange Youth Action Council’s Sincerely Queer group, supported by Orange City Council’s Community Services. Council says it is fully funded by the NSW government’s ‘‘Our Region Our Voice’’ Regional Youth Investment Program. Interview with Kris Dhillon from Orange Christian Alliance. Orange News Examiner: Can you tell me about the Orange Christian Alliance? Kris Dhillon: It’s a community work group; we've got a reach of probably five to six-hundred people in the community who identify as Christian - we maintain contact with them and send them information about what's happening in the community and politics, and we help them to respond in ways they want to respond. What other issues are you interested in? Issues like [NSW MP] Alex Greenwich’s Equality Bill. [Greenwich says his bill would “remove all remaining discrimination of LGBTIQA+ communities and achieve holistic equality”.] Issues of euthanasia, abortion - whatever's happening in our community in terms of any proposition that affects family and children. There's been quite a few lately. I've been involved with the Australian Christian Lobby for about four years. [The ACL is a conservative Christian movement that railed against same-sex marriage and describes Greenwich’s Equality Bill as “sinister” and a “subversion of truth and justice in the name of individual sexual autonomy”.] Do you have a position on euthanasia? We do have a position, but that's not really what I want to discuss at the moment. Council says the festival is about inclusion and everyone being welcome. Yes, that's always the narrative we get - it’s about inclusion diversity and, look, our community is diverse, we don't have any problem with that. We have a variety of different races, a variety of different religions, and we always have had to some extent. And we've had gay and lesbian people in our community and, in some cases, in our families. This is not what this is about. This is about the ideological move that accelerated about a decade ago … it was being pushed by an ideology that when a child or a young teen presents with mental health issues and social issues then they are diagnosed - and some would say misdiagnosed - with gender dysphoria. The problem has been they're not then put into psychotherapy, they are moved forward to a psychologist who will only affirm that dysphoria, and then that means going onto puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, surgery and then a lot of these kids find they’ve done the wrong thing and it's too late. I’ve read that the percentage of people who regret transitioning is between 0.3 and 0.6 percent. That's a study done in adults, not done in children. You quote John Whitehall, professor of Paediatrics at Western Sydney University, who is a controversial figure. Well tell me Peter, why is he controversial? Firstly, because he admitted that in his 50-year paediatric career he’d never once dealt with a patient with gender dysphoria. People who have a different point of view to you say that this is not the guy you want to be relying on, yet he is the go-to guest on Sky, in the Murdoch press, on 2GB. But he’s analysed data from all over the world. John Whitehall has been quoted on Sky News with Peta Credlin speaking in favour of conversion therapy. So I think it’s fair to say he’s a controversial figure. You can go looking for arguments on both sides of this issue. Does it become more about ideology and religion - you back the people who agree with your own Christian views? Look, we have a religious position, but that's not what this is about. We’re not talking about these children being eternally damned to hell, we're talking about the problems and the harms they face right now. John Whitehall talks about the effect of puberty blockers on the brain and he likens it to the decline that's seen in children with Down Syndrome. Whitehall was a senior member of Fred Nile’s Christian Democrat Party. Are there dangers when you start mixing science with religion, because conversion therapy suggests - for example - people who are gay can be turned around. Doesn’t that mean that everything is at risk of being seen through the prism of ‘this is not Godly, this is not right, homosexuals are an abomination’? We do have to be careful with that. The scriptures don't say gays and homosexuals are an abomination - the scriptures say sin is an abomination. We have to make that distinction. But in answer to your question, I think the answer is no. It may be a Christian worldview that encourages someone to pursue something, but the science has to speak for itself. If a young child presents with whatever mental issues they might have, the presentation has to be examined in light of what's going on instead of an ideology to push them towards that gender. Why are they only forced to see a psychoanalyst who will confirm the gender instead of looking at other psychiatric or social issues? You’ve claimed twice that every single psychologist or psychoanalyst will immediately endorse the patient’s wishes. Is that an evidence-based claim? I don't know if it’s 100 percent Peter, but this is what … I'm not a clinician, but I'm reading about what Australian researchers say. I’d want to see some data. It’s being financed … The pharmaceutical companies are very happy with this because it means people are on cross-sex hormones for the rest of their lives. But that’s a very cynical view, isn’t it? Big Pharma makes billions upon billions of dollars in profits. The percentage of children or adults who transition is so small that it’s highly unlikely these massive corporations are relying on transgender people for their profits. Well, in the US one in five - I don't know the age range - young people identify as something other than their biological sex, so it's pretty huge. [US TV network NBC reported in 2021 that “Younger Americans are increasingly likely to consider themselves part of the LGBTQ community: Nearly 16 percent of Generation Z, those 18 to 23 in 2020, consider themselves something other than heterosexual. That compares to just 2 percent of Americans 56 and older. The Pew Research Center in the US stated in 2022: “Adults under 30 are more likely than older adults to be trans or nonbinary. Some 5.1 percent of adults younger than 30 are trans or nonbinary, including 2 percent who are a trans man or trans woman and 3 percent who are nonbinary – that is, they are neither a man nor a woman or aren’t strictly one or the other. This compares with 1.6 percent of 30- to 49-year-olds and 0.3 percent of those 50 and older who are trans or nonbinary. Pew said the share of US adults who are transgender is high among adults younger than 25. In this age group, 3.1 percent are a trans man or a trans woman, compared with 0.5 percent of those ages 25 to 29.”] Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Queer - is your problem only with the T, or all of it? To be honest with you, I don't know the distinct difference between those particular groups. Biological sex is male or female. I don't know who created all of these different things, but where's the scientific evidence for that? This has been going on for a long time. I know, having worked in the pharmaceutical industry, that it would be very, very simple to gather the data … to present the data - this is what's happened with puberty blockers, this is what’s happened with cross-sex hormones… Why haven't we got the data? [A 2022 study from the University of Washington asked the question: “Is gender-affirming care for transgender and nonbinary (TNB) youths associated with changes in depression, anxiety, and suicidality?” It found that “in this prospective cohort of 104 TNB youths aged 13 to 20 years, receipt of gender-affirming care, including puberty blockers and gender-affirming hormones, was associated with 60 percent lower odds of moderate or severe depression and 73 percent lower odds of suicidality over a 12-month follow-up”. And a 2022 report in US publication Pediatrics on “social transitioning” (changing personal pronouns or the way you look, but not having medical procedures) found that “more commonly, transgender youth who socially transitioned at early ages continued to identify that way” after five years. In Melbourne, The Royal Children’s Hospital Gender Services (RCHGS) introduced the First Assessment Single-Session Triage (FASST) model in 2016. The RCHGS is “one of the world’s largest multidisciplinary clinics providing care to transgender children and adolescents”. It said that a “recent community-based survey of almost 900 Australian trans youth found a staggering 80 percent had self-harmed and 48 percent had attempted suicide. Three quarters had been diagnosed with depression and 72 percent with anxiety”. FASST “invites transgender and gender diverse young people and their families to a 90-minute face-to-face session with a clinical nurse consultant or RCHGS Adolescent Medicine fellow”. “For young people, coming to the clinic helps to validate their experience, improve their confidence, and have a greater sense of empowerment moving forward,” says Royal Children’s Hospital paediatrician, associate professor Ken Pang. The hospital says the “one-off session provides initial assessment and triage while delivering information, education and support to patients and their families”. “This might involve discussions about how to socially affirm one’s gender by using preferred names and pronouns at home or at school or emphasising the importance of looking after one’s general mental health and accessing relevant community-based services,” it states. “Associate professor Pang says that for young people who attend the clinic, learning what they can do while they wait for a more definitive, multidisciplinary assessment at the RCHGS is empowering. “Young people described a greater sense of agency afterwards and we were really pleased to see significant improvements in mental health and quality of life following attendance.”] What about adults? We’re not talking about adults. Adults can make up their own mind. If adults transition, that's not an issue for the Orange Christian Alliance? No, it’s not an issue for us. We know people and we love them, we don’t agree with their lifestyle but there's a lot of things we disagree with people with. But why do we want to draw children into something that may be harmful? What exactly is there to celebrate? They could be drawn into a lifestyle that could have lasting detrimental effects on them. You talk about peer pressure, but do you really think it’s possible to trick a straight person into becoming gay, or convince someone against their will to transition? No, I don’t think that’s what we’re talking about. It's the influence of what they see their peers doing, of the lifestyle they are in. We've all been influenced by a group of people, we tend to go with the flow. You’re making a huge leap there. We're talking about youngsters. They are influenced by what their peer group is doing and they can be influenced to think, ‘Ah well, maybe I'm not really a boy or a girl’, or ‘This anxiety or this depression, maybe I can feel better if I do that, because my friends are doing it’. Having these celebrations can lead people who are over-represented with mental and social problems. Isn’t that a bit of chicken and egg? Aren’t people more likely to experience those challenges if they feel as if they’ve grown up in the wrong body, and have been targeted throughout their life? You could say that, but that’s not what the researchers are saying. Finnish research shows they present with all sort of mental and social issues, and … the growth in gender distress and gender dysphoria is in line with what was happening - the pressure from various LGBT groups and that sort of thing within society. We all go through these phases when we’re growing up where we don't know who we are, or what we are, or what we want to be. Give them a chance to grow up. And what about these conversion therapy laws, where your child comes to you and says, ‘Oh I don’t think I’m ..’, you know, because these thoughts have been put into their heads in schools and kindergartens - ‘Oh, you know, you can be whatever you want’, and they come to their parents and say ‘I'm not happy, maybe it’s because I’m in the wrong body’ and a parent cannot say ‘Don't be silly, wait until you’re a bit older’. You’re not even allowed to pray for them. [The Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission (VEOHRC) states: “The Act does not prohibit prayer and religious practices, except when they amount to a change or suppression practice. Your private prayer with your God can continue.”] Why wouldn’t you allow that child to have psychotherapy, why wouldn't you allow them to have some counselling to see what the underlying issue is, other than just assume it is what the child thinks it is. The subtext of what you’re saying is that being gay or bisexual or trans is wrong, and that with therapy it can all be turned around. That's not what I'm saying. We’re talking about gender confusion. You don’t support conversion therapy for kids who are gay, just kids who are trans? I didn't say that. Conversion therapy brings back notions of the sorts of things that used to happen with homosexuals. Nowadays the Victorian law calls a parent saying to a child wait until you’re a little bit older ‘conversion therapy’. Prayer is conversion therapy. Why would you not allow loving, caring parents to say to little Johnny or whoever, ‘Look, wait until you’re a little older - why don't we go and see a counsellor to see what's bothering you?’. You can’t do that, you just have to affirm them. What about those homophobic or bigoted parents who don’t want a gay or lesbian or bisexual or transgender child, and want to do something about it? Is that who you’re really targeting? The premise of that question is false. To say parents are homophobic … Some are. Just because they question a child’s confusion - is wrong. But you know there are parents who do not want gay kids, because they think it’s warped, that it’s not right? Do you think it’s right Peter? Do you think we were born biologically according to our genes? My view is if there is a god, they make gay people. Well, that's not what the scriptures say. If you want to have a religious argument, it's not what the scriptures say. Science shows either you have male genes or female genes. If you believe The Bible we've been around for 6,000 years. If you believe the scientists we've been around a lot longer than that. Why are seeing this upsurge? We all knew homosexuals and gays when we were growing up, it wasn’t an issue. Well, it was an issue. I think that's deluded to say it wasn't. I worked with homosexuals. I went to school in the 1980s and we didn’t have one gay kid in school. Not one. Well, as it turns out, we did, but they just didn’t want to risk being bashed or harassed. Homophobia is still rife in our schools. Gay kids in the Central West are called “faggots” and teased and bullied. That’s wrong. Do you accept that the views you hold can contribute to that attitude that it's OK to abuse or look down on certain people? I’m not talking about homosexuals, I'm talking about children being given the opportunity of growing up without being directed into one particular act. MORE NEWS ... Brown water gushing down Peisley Street Orange Rainbow Festival to feature street parade, disco, drag queen competition and storytime What would it take for you to rent out a spare room? Orange City Council would like to know Farraway quits as shadow minister to focus on Central West Skating on thin ice: Mileto calls for action on motorbike pests Orange's 24/7 deep freeze to go before council The Orange News Examiner needs your support so we can keep informing our city. You can make a one-off donation or a small monthly pledge at Patreon or PayPal. Or you can ... Thank you to those who have already chipped in. Meanwhile, if you run a business, you can reach around 12,000 people a month by advertising with us. Phone O4O8 427 786. TAKE ME TO ... REAL ESTATE INSIDE STORY / FEATURES POLICE & CRIME COMMUNITY BUSINESS COUNCIL POLITICS THE HOME PAGE

February 19, 2024 By Peter Holmes Orange councillors will vote on Tuesday night (February 20, 2024) on whether to pursue an independent review into the disastrous Lords Place south makeover. Councillor Frances Kinghorne, who was one of three councillors to vote against the controversial project, will move a motion to launch the review “as soon as practicable”. The review would cover “the planning, approval, and construction” of the development. Orange City Council said the CEO David Waddell “has discussed this with an OLG [Office of Local Government] Panel member who conducts this type of review. The review will cost in the order of $20,000-25,000”. As background to her motion, Kinghorne wrote: “As we are all aware, the Lords Pl South redevelopment was approved in late 2022, completed in mid-2023, and partially dismantled in late 2023. The project cost around $1.6m plus another $200k to dismantle. We have achieved a situation with which most of our community are unhappy. “We have a responsibility to understand what went wrong, and to learn any lessons from this process, to help ensure that such a massive waste of money is not repeated.” Kinghorne said the “purpose of this motion is not to apportion blame to any individual or team. It is a genuine attempt to learn from a mistake. It is to show the community that we are willing to be transparent, and to demonstrate that we have the capacity to accept that sometimes we get things wrong and are willing to learn from these experiences”. Kinghorne said the review should consider: 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? Under the heading “Policy and Governance Implications”, OCC staff have written: “Nil at this stage.” MORE NEWS ... Orange Christians lobby councillors to withdraw support for Rainbow Festival, claiming youth "enticed into its tentacles" Brown water gushing down Peisley Street Orange Rainbow Festival to feature street parade, disco, drag queen competition and storytime What would it take for you to rent out a spare room? Orange City Council would like to know Farraway quits as shadow minister to focus on Central West Skating on thin ice: Mileto calls for action on motorbike pests Orange's 24/7 deep freeze to go before council The Orange News Examiner needs your support so we can keep informing our city. You can make a one-off donation or a small monthly pledge at Patreon or PayPal. Or you can ... Thank you to those who have already chipped in. Meanwhile, if you run a business, you can reach around 12,000 people a month by advertising with us. Phone O4O8 427 786. TAKE ME TO ... REAL ESTATE INSIDE STORY / FEATURES POLICE & CRIME COMMUNITY BUSINESS COUNCIL POLITICS THE HOME PAGE

February 16, 2024 By Peter Holmes Tens of thousands of litres of dirty brown water were flowing down Peisley Street early on Friday afternoon after an apparent pipe burst. The Orange News Examiner noticed a brown water spout emerging from grass on a verge next to a footpath at the corner of Peisley and Margaret streets at about 12:30pm Friday. The pressure of the water had lifted the grass. The funky brown was flowing downhill past Legacy Avenue to a drain at the corner of Matthews Avenue. The drain appeared to be handling the deluge. Orange City Council says it is aware of the issue and is dealing with it presently. In other Peisley Street news, a row of shiny Kenworth truck cabs made its way into the CBD around 9am on Friday. We're not sure why the convoy of K-Whoppers was in town. The Orange News Examiner needs your support so we can keep informing our city. You can make a one-off donation or a small monthly pledge at Patreon or PayPal. Or you can ... Thank you to those who have already chipped in. Meanwhile, if you run a business, you can reach around 12,000 people a month by advertising with us. Phone O4O8 427 786. TAKE ME TO ... REAL ESTATE INSIDE STORY / FEATURES POLICE & CRIME COMMUNITY BUSINESS COUNCIL POLITICS THE HOME PAGE

February 13, 2024 By Peter Holmes The centrepiece of the three-day Orange Rainbow Festival will be a street parade on Saturday March 23, 2024. The parade will start at 1pm and culminate in markets, live music, Pride Pets, Rainbow Storytime and a local drag queen competition at Robertson Park. The first Orange City Council Rainbow Festival is on from March 22 to 24, 2024. What would it take for you to rent out a spare room? Orange City Council would like to know “It will embrace diversity, foster acceptance and inclusivity, and support our young LGBTQIA+ community to be themselves,” said council. Events include: Drag Bingo at The Greenhouse of Orange (18+, March 22 at 7pm); Street disco in McNamara Street with live music, DJ, food stalls, drag queens and street performers (18+, March 23 at 7pm); Brunch with the Queens at Groundstone Café (15+, March 24 at 10am). The festival is hosted by the Orange Youth Action Council’s Sincerely Queer group, supported by Orange City Council’s Community Services, and is fully funded by the NSW government’s ‘‘Our Region Our Voice’’ Regional Youth Investment Program. This link, with details on events and ticketing, will go live following a launch on Wednesday February 14, 2024: www.orange.nsw.gov.au/rainbow-festival/ MORE NEWS Farraway quits as shadow minister to focus on Central West Skating on thin ice: Mileto calls for action on motorbike pests Orange's 24/7 deep freeze to go before council

February 9, 2024 By Peter Holmes Homeowners have been surveyed outside the Post Office on Summer Street, as Orange City Council (OCC) and other councils west of the Blue Mountains grapple with housing 64,000 additional workers over the next five years. Locals are being asked what it would take for them to consider renting out a spare room. "Research by the NSW Department of Planning shows that 64,000 additional workers will be  needed across the Central West and Orana regions over the next five years," OCC said. "The Central NSW Joint Organisation (JO) is looking for ways to unlock potential sources of accommodation in  the area." The Central NSW Joint Organisation was established in 2018. Members are: Bathurst Regional Council Blayney Shire Council Cabonne Council Cowra Council Forbes Shire Council Lachlan Shire Council Oberon Council Orange City Council Parkes Shire Council Weddin Shire Council Associate Members: Central Tablelands Water Regional Development Australia – Central West NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet Any such scheme could "help tackle a housing shortage for new workers looking for a place to live", OCC said. The Central NSW JO has launched the Spare Capacity in Housing Project. A company has started "researching the potential for unlocking the region’s unused bedrooms", OCC said. Orange mayor Jason Hamling said OCC was "looking forward to seeing the results of the research. Orange City Council is really pleased to be part of this project to discover the potential of using existing spare rooms". "There are number of international examples where this has worked, so we’re keen to find out how it could work in regional NSW.” Over the next few weeks the company will be asking shoppers in Orange, Bathurst and Parkes to complete a survey about the number of spare rooms in their house and what might encourage them to rent them out. It began surveying people outside the Post Office in Summer Street last week. “There are many houses with one or two spare rooms and this project is a step towards  finding out how homeowners could be encouraged to let them out as short-term rentals,”  Hamling said. The consultants are planning to complete the survey stage of the project by the end of  February and will compile a report for the Central NSW JO. OCC said a program in the US to "connect homeowners with nurses who are travelling and looking for accommodation to start a new job has proved successful". It added: "In the UK, the British Government lets homeowners earn up to 7500 pounds a year tax free from renting out a  furnished room in their house." MORE NEWS Farraway quits as shadow minister to focus on Central West Skating on thin ice: Mileto calls for action on motorbike pests Orange's 24/7 deep freeze to go before council 'No it's not a scam' ... Orange couple scoops $10 million lottery win

February 9, 2024 By Peter Holmes Central West upper house state MP Sam Farraway has quit as a shadow minister, paving the way for a potential tilt at Andrew Gee's seat of Calare in the next federal election. "Today, I have informed NSW National Party leader Dugald Saunders that I've made the decision to step down as the shadow minister for regional transport and roads to dedicate my energy, experience and passion to the Central West," Farraway said in a statement released on Friday morning. "Serving as the minister for regional transport and roads in the former Coalition government was an honour and a privilege. Despite stepping down, I remain dedicated to holding the Minns Labor government accountable through my role as an upper house MP in portfolio committees, inquiries and the Budget Estimates process." Farraway is tipped to throw his hat into the ring for National Party preselection as the next candidate for Calare, currently held by former National and now independent Andrew Gee. The vast seat includes Orange, Lithgow, Oberson, Blayney and Bathurst - where Farraway lives. "The Central West has huge potential. It’s the best place to live, run a business and raise a family, but we have our fair share of challenges," Farraway said. "This decision isn't about stepping away; it's about stepping closer – closer to the issues that impact our community, closer to the very reason of why I entered politics." Farraway said he would focus on "water security, flood recovery, infrastructure improvements (like upgrading the Great Western Highway), support for small businesses and housing solutions". "I look forward to working alongside all our Central West communities to build a stronger, more prosperous region for us all," he said. The next federal election is due in 2025. The next state election is in 2027.

February 6, 2024 By David Fitzsimons Hoons on motorbikes are causing trouble for young people using an Orange skate park, it was revealed last night. Orange councillor Tony Mileto called for action to stop the dramas occurring at the skate park in Glenroi. He told the city council meeting he had been contacted by “numerous people” regarding the incidents and police had been notified. “Unfortunately these (people) on motorcycles are going across the oval and around where the skateboard park has been constructed,” he said. “What happens is some inconsiderate people are riding their motorbikes while they trying to ride their skateboards. “It’s Orchard Grove Road where these motorcycles are frequenting and coming from several houses up there.” He called for people to report any incidents to police. Deputy mayor Gerald Power said he had raised the matter with a newly-appointed Aboriginal Police liaison officer in Orange. “He has taken that on board,” he said. “He’s got a big job to do and so I told him just to breathe and know that there is going to be a fair bit of work for him to do.” Councillor Kevin Duffy said the problem was widespread across Orange. “When you travel around the city at four o’clock in the morning you do see them all over town in different areas,” he said. In other council news staff will investigate the possible reintroduction of a New Year’s Eve fireworks display in Orange. Councillors asked for staff to also look at other options including light, drone and laser displays. While NYE fireworks displays have traditionally been held at Waratah Oval, Councillor Glenn Floyd, who called for the reintroduction of the annual fireworks, said the new sporting stadium site at Jack Brabham Park could be considered as a future fireworks venue.

February 3, 2024 By David Fitzsimons Orange’s councillors are back to work next week with a $15 million project set to create up to 30 jobs on the first agenda. With only eight months to go to the next council elections the city’s 12 councillors will be in election mode. Key decisions now could affect how people go about voting for candidates for the next council. Bidfood Australia is proposing a $15.4 million giant freezing store on the Southern Feeder Road near Glenroi to be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Council staff have recommended the warehouse project be approved. The development application for the work was lodged seven months ago and it's now up to councillors to decide. “Bidfood Australia operates in the wholesale food distribution industry, supplying a diverse range of food and beverage products to establishments such as restaurants, cafes, hotels, healthcare and age care facilities, and educational institutions,” the staff report says. “The proposed development entails the construction of a 4613 square metre industrial scale building featuring purpose-built dry and cold food and beverage storage areas, along with ancillary office/administrative spaces. “Operations will encompass the delivery and storage of frozen foods, general food items, beverages, and wholesale liquor. “This facility is designed to function as a distribution hub for local and regional customers, operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The development is expected to create employment opportunities for up to 30 people.”

January 17, 2024 By Peter Holmes An Orange couple won $10 million in Tuesday night's Oz Lotto draw. According to gambling agency The Lott the couple was the only division one entry. "The New South Wales couple shared they were keen to retire in the near future, pay off their bills and help their children," The Lott said. The couple had paid for a 12-game QuickPick. “Are you serious? Are you actually serious?” the woman cried, according to The Lott. She then wondered whether the whole thing was a scam. As transcribed by The Lott: "Oh my god! Oh my god! This is unbelievable – I can’t believe this. What a dream come true! I can’t stop crying, I’m sorry!" The woman told The Lott that usually she and her husband only won $12 on a ticket. She said she couldn't "wait to get off the phone and visit my husband who is working away in our shed ... We’re farmers and my husband is at retirement age and we thought we could never retire." The winning numbers in Oz Lotto draw 1561 on Tuesday January 16, 2024 were 17, 37, 4, 29, 9, 24 and 47, while the supplementary numbers were 20, 27 and 14. According to The Lott your chance of winning Oz Lotto with a one-game purchase is one in nearly 63 million. Do you have a problem with gambling? This government resource links out to various groups that can help.

January 11, 2024 By Peter Holmes Four youths have been charged following a pursuit in an allegedly stolen car in Orange overnight. "About 2.40am today officers attached to Central West Police District attempted to stop a Toyota Kluger for the purpose of a random breath test," said NSW Police. "When it failed to stop, a pursuit was initiated. The pursuit continued throughout Orange to Canowindra Road and back into Orange." Police said they successfully deployed road spikes on Cargo Road and the vehicle continued through Orange before it stopped in Raines Place. "Three boys and a girl exited the car and fled on foot where they were arrested a short time later and taken to Orange Police Station," police said. Police said the vehicle was stolen overnight from a home on McLachlan Street, Orange. A 14-year-old boy was charged with police pursuit - not stop - drive recklessly, drive conveyance taken without consent of owner, participate criminal group contribute criminal activity, and enter enclosed land not prescribed premises without lawful excuse. A 13-year-old boy was charged with participate criminal group contribute criminal activity, be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner, and breach of bail. Another 13-year-old boy was charged with be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner, enter enclosed land not prescribed premises without lawful excuse, participate criminal group contribute criminal activity, and breach of bail. A 12-year-old girl was charged with be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner. The three boys were refused bail to appear at a children’s court today (January 11, 2024). The girl was given conditional bail to appear at a children’s court on Thursday February 8, 2024.

January 6, 2024 By Peter Holmes More than six hours after a "serious" motor vehicle accident on the Mitchell Highway, emergency services remained on the scene. Police said the Mitchell Highway would remain closed cor a "considerable amount of time". "Emergency services are currently on scene at a serious motor vehicle in the states Central West," NSW Police said late on Saturday night. "About 3.15pm today emergency services responded to reports of a single vehicle roll over along the Mitchell Highway, Molong, approximately 35km north of Orange. "NSW Ambulance paramedics treated the 55-year-old male driver and passengers at the scene." Police said the driver was taken to Orange Hospital. The passengers – an 82-year-old woman and an 81-year-old man – were airlifted to Westmead Hospital. "All three are in a serious but stable condition," police said. Officers from Central West Police District have secured a crime scene which is being examined by specialist police from the Crash Investigation Unit. "The Mitchell Highway is presently closed in both directions and motorists are urged to avoid the area. It is anticipated that the roadway will remain a crime scene for a considerable amount of time." As investigations continue police are urging anyone who may have witnessed the crash – or has any available dashcam/mobile phone footage – to contact Orange Police Station or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

December 19, 2023 By David Fitzsimons Orange’s swimming pool complex and main car park will be free for the next few weeks. In Christmas gestures set to cost Orange City Council about $125,000 in lost revenue it voted on Tuesday night to remove pool entrance and car park fees. The Ophir car park will be fee-free from Wednesday December 20, 2023 to February 1 next year while the pools will be free from Friday December 22, 2023 to January 31 next year. A staff report said waiving pool entrance fees would amount to about $90,000 with the expected need for extra staff to meet demand costing $25,200. A separate report said opening the car park would cost about $10,000 in lost revenue. Councillor Jeff Whitton said free pool access would help Orange families. “It has been a tough year for a lot of families,” he said. “There would be a number of families and their children who due to hardship would probably not visited and have never visited the Orange Aquatic Centre.” He said the pool used to have free access. Mayor Jason Hamling said while a “fair amount of money” would be lost in revenue it was a decent decision in tough times. “I think the canteen will want to stock up because if we get a lot of people there they will want to have a lot of food,” he said. “That’s the other way we can make money back on this.” Councillor David Mallard said the pool would likely be in demand due to expected hot weather. “We’re facing a summer that’s going to be pretty extreme if not unprecedented,” he said. Councillor Frances Kinghorne opposed both motions describing the pool move as “fiscally irresponsible”. “These costs will have to be rated and caught up by the ratepayers,” she said. “That means people who aren’t using the pool will have to pay for it.” Councillor Steve Peterson questioned whether the free car parking would be largely taken up by workers and therefore be of limited benefit to shoppers. Councillor Mel McDonell said she was concerned about the costs and suggested the pool only be free on selected days. “Yes, there might be short term gain but there’s long term pain and we are going to have to make that up somehow,” she said. Staff said the number of people entering the centre would be monitored and restricted for safety reasons. CORRECTION An earlier version of this story misstated the first day of free pool access. MORE NEWS ... Hill Street access and 3.6-hectare industrial site on Closed Meeting council agenda for Orange A Night in Nashville 2024: All you need to know Councillors like the idea of a new "neighbourhood" supermarket in Orange Call for wind farm near Orange to be put on hold; concerns raised over transporting 80-metre rotors Mental tales from the man keeping time: Wayne "Bird" de Lisle in Orange New drive-through bottle-o for Orange? Orange church's plan to relocate to former gym on 20,000-square-metre block INSIDE STORY: The MP, the "suspicious package" of Philip Shaw wine, and the Nat who felt "used" Six months after 103 Prince Street was finally approved, a brick is yet to be laid The Orange News Examiner needs your support so we can keep informing our city. You can make a one-off donation or a small monthly pledge at Patreon or PayPal. Or you can ... Thank you to those who have already chipped in. Meanwhile, if you run a business, you can reach around 12,000 people a month by advertising with us. Phone O4O8 427 786. TAKE ME TO ... REAL ESTATE INSIDE STORY / FEATURES POLICE & CRIME COMMUNITY BUSINESS COUNCIL POLITICS THE HOME PAGE

December 16, 2023 CORRECTION: Police have updated their earlier statement, which incorrectly stated the deceased was in the parked utility. The 49-year-old man who died at the scene was driving the van. By Peter Holmes Police are seeking dashcam footage after a road fatality in Orange on Saturday afternoon (December 16, 2023). A man, 49, died following the two-vehicle crash at about 12:20pm. "Emergency services were called Moulder Street, Orange, following reports of a crash," NSW Police said. "On arrival, officers attached to Central West Police District were told a white van had lost control at a roundabout before crashing into a parked black utility." NSW Ambulance Paramedics attended and treated the driver of the van, however he died at the scene. A male passenger was treated at the scene and taken to Orange Hospital in a stable condition. Three occupants in the parked car suffered minor injuries and were taken to Orange Hospital in a stable condition. A crime scene has been established, which is being forensically examined. An investigation has commenced into the circumstances surrounding the crash and a report will be prepared for the coroner. Road closures are in place and drivers are advised to avoid the area. Anyone with information into the incident or dashcam footage is urged to call police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. MORE NEWS ... A Shaw thing: New boss for Orange Regional Conservatorium revealed Hill Street access and 3.6-hectare industrial site on Closed Meeting council agenda for Orange A Night in Nashville 2024: All you need to know Councillors like the idea of a new "neighbourhood" supermarket in Orange Call for wind farm near Orange to be put on hold; concerns raised over transporting 80-metre rotors Mental tales from the man keeping time: Wayne "Bird" de Lisle in Orange New drive-through bottle-o for Orange? Orange church's plan to relocate to former gym on 20,000-square-metre block INSIDE STORY: The MP, the "suspicious package" of Philip Shaw wine, and the Nat who felt "used" The Orange News Examiner needs your support so we can keep informing our city. You can make a one-off donation or a small monthly pledge at Patreon or PayPal. Thank you to those who have already chipped in. Meanwhile, if you run a business, you can reach around 12,000 people a month by advertising with us. Phone O4O8 427 786. TAKE ME TO ... REAL ESTATE INSIDE STORY / FEATURES POLICE & CRIME COMMUNITY BUSINESS COUNCIL POLITICS THE HOME PAGE

December 15, 2023 By Peter Holmes Orange Regional Conservatorium "anticipates a period of growth and evolution" under the leadership of new executive director David Shaw, whose appointment was announced on Friday afternoon (December 15, 2023). Shaw is a very familiar face to those involved in con life, as both a teacher and a performer. He will assume the role in 2024, succeeding Donna Riles, who is retiring. Shaw said he was "delighted" to accept the role. "The ORC holds immense value and importance within our community, and I am eager to ensure that we build and grow together in Orange. "I believe in a visible, relevant, and inclusive conservatorium for Orange and look forward to exciting times ahead as the director of this wonderful institution.” ORC said: "Shaw brings a wealth of experience to the position. Having held leadership roles  within the Conservatorium and the broader community, he is well-acquainted with the unique dynamics of fostering music education and appreciation." ORC plans to move to bespoke premises in 2025. The budget has risen from $25 million to $33.5 million, with Orange City Council recently upping its investment from $10 million to $18.5 million. ORC chair Pam Ryan said Shaw had "proven leadership, coupled with a collaborative and personable approach". "We are delighted to see talent nurtured within the ORC, paving the way for a dynamic and exciting journey ahead." RELATED ... Perfect pitch as $25 million Con job complete Orange council was going to spend $10 million on the new conservatorium. It's now $18.5 million Orange's OCTEC donates $350,000 towards new conservatorium fitout The Orange News Examiner needs your support so we can keep informing our city. You can make a one-off donation or a small monthly pledge at Patreon or PayPal. Thank you to those who have already chipped in. Meanwhile, if you run a business, you can reach around 12,000 people a month by advertising with us. Phone O4O8 427 786. TAKE ME TO ... REAL ESTATE INSIDE STORY / FEATURES POLICE & CRIME COMMUNITY BUSINESS COUNCIL POLITICS THE HOME PAGE

December 15, 2023 By Peter Holmes Councillors will head behind closed doors to discuss two key developments at Tuesday’s night final Orange City Council (OCC) meeting for 2023. The Closed Agenda relates to the sale of the site of the Orange Regional Conservatorium (ORC) at 73a Hill Street, and a new industrial development at Narrambla Business Park on Elwin Drive. The ORC’s 4,218-square-metre block is flat and rectangular. OCC pitched the Hill Street sale as a “Prime Medium-Density Residential Development Opportunity” and engaged advisory firm JPAbusiness, to seek Expressions of Interest (EOI) for the land. “The site is … just one block away from the main thoroughfare of Summer Street to the south and Byng Street to the north,” council said. “The opportunity has substantial scope to capitalise on the city’s growing housing market in an ideal location. “With a limited supply of centrally located premium medium-density developments and a growing proportion of retirees, families and property investors, this unique development opportunity is not to be missed. “Council is seeking EOIs to purchase and develop the site, with the aim to increase the availability of quality medium density dwellings in the Orange CBD, and enhance and compliment the built environment within the surrounding area.” According to OCC the site is zoned R1 General Residential, “which allows for a variety of residential developments, supported by merit-based planning outcomes. "There are no specific height controls, but the development must be within the vicinity of the existing conservatorium” OCC said the “main access was via Hill Street”. This access will be the subject of the closed meeting. The only information shared with the public is that councillors will discuss “Proposed Easement Through 73a Hill Street Orange”. People using the ORC car parks (main and a smaller staff area) access them via a roadway easement running alongside two Hill Street properties. A developer would require that access to continue. There is a second “unofficial” entrance to the ORC main car park via Johnstone Street, which runs off Byng Street. However residents have complained to council that opening it up as a full-time thoroughfare would impact negatively on their lives. The formal EOI process for 73a Hill Street opened July 11, 2023 and closed on August 8, 2023. The matter is classified “Confidential” under the provisions of Section 10A(2) of the Local Government Act 1993, which permits the meeting to be closed to the public for business relating to (c) information that would, if disclosed, confer a commercial advantage on a person with whom the Council is conducting (or proposes to conduct) business. The second item on Tuesday’s Closed Meeting agenda is the sale and development of a 36,000-square-metre plot of land at 22 Elwin Drive in Orange. “Orange City Council is inviting Expressions of Interest for the purchase and development of industrial land at Narrambla Business Park Orange adjacent to the Northern Distributor Road, which is the main highway from Sydney to the central west of NSW and links Lithgow, Bathurst, Orange and Dubbo,” said OCC. “Council is primarily interested in the economic impact which a potential developer could make to Orange and accordingly the Expressions of Interest should include the proposed development, the economic impact [and] the potential growth in employment and opportunities that would be expected from a development.” According to OCC papers the matter is confidential as it relates to information “that would, if disclosed, confer a commercial advantage on a competitor of the council”. RELATED ... Perfect pitch as $25 million Con job complete Orange council was going to spend $10 million on the new conservatorium. It's now $18.5 million Orange's OCTEC donates $350,000 towards new conservatorium fitout The Orange News Examiner needs your support so we can keep informing our city. You can make a one-off donation or a small monthly pledge at Patreon or PayPal. Or you can ... Thank you to those who have already chipped in. Meanwhile, if you run a business, you can reach around 12,000 people a month by advertising with us. Phone O4O8 427 786. TAKE ME TO ... REAL ESTATE INSIDE STORY / FEATURES POLICE & CRIME COMMUNITY BUSINESS COUNCIL POLITICS THE HOME PAGE

December 14, 2023 A Night In Nashville returns in March 2024, and will be held across two nights. Here’s what you need to know about Orange’s premier honky tonk. WHEN March 1 and 2, 2024 5-11pm each night WHERE Agricultural Pavilion, Orange Showground, Leeds Parade GETTING THERE A shuttle bus will be doing loops to and from the Orange Visitors Centre throughout the night. Car parking is also availiable on site. TIX $93 each night. DRINKS Multiple bars will be operating on the night (card sales only). Strictly No BYO. FOOD Multiple vendors. PRIZES Best Dressed, Best Line Dancers. MECHANICAL BULL & LINE DANCING Of course! KIDS The event is aimed at 18+; children must be under direct and constant adult supervision. WET WEATHER The event will proceed as it is indoors. ACCOMMODATION Book through major sponsor BNB Made Easy - which manages more than 130 homes in Orange - and get $50 off your booking for that weekend with the code NASHVILLE24. Bnbmadeeasy.com.au; phone 02 5325 8561. BACK STORY Founded by Tim Mortimer and the team at BNB Made Easy during Covid lockdowns. "It was quite depressing at the time, travel had virtually ceased and we thought, you know what, we need to get everyone together,” said Mortimer. “So we decided to create an event that captures the essence of Nashville and brings it to our wonderful community in Orange.” FRIDAY LINEUP Ryan Mead Megan Woods Paul Costa Jarrad Wrigley MAX JACKSON SATURDAY LINEUP Hustle and Heart Tyla Rodrigues Nathan Lamont Claudia Tripp ROBBIE MORTIMER BOOKINGS Purchase tickets here. MORE www.anightinnashville.com.au The Orange News Examiner needs your support so we can keep informing our city. You can make a one-off donation or a small monthly pledge at Patreon or PayPal. Or you can ... Thank you to those who have already chipped in. Meanwhile, if you run a business, you can reach around 12,000 people a month by advertising with us. Phone O4O8 427 786. TAKE ME TO ... REAL ESTATE INSIDE STORY / FEATURES POLICE & CRIME COMMUNITY BUSINESS COUNCIL POLITICS THE HOME PAGE