What the council is working on
Recent deliveries, what's underway now, and what's planned next — drawn from the council's own plans, budgets and project pages. We report what the council has publicly said it's doing; every item links to its source.
The council's stated direction
Orange City Council's direction is set out in its Community Strategic Plan 2025–2035 and a Delivery Program with an annual Operational Plan and budget. As a regional city, water security has been a recurring priority alongside major community infrastructure.
The council manages local roads, water and sewer, waste, libraries, the regional gallery and conservatorium, sport and recreation, and planning across a Central West LGA that serves as a sub-regional hub for health, education and retail. Its Delivery Program is the elected council's statement of commitment for its term.
The council's 2026/27 draft budget proposed a consolidated operating surplus (before capital) of about $2.6 million and roughly $78.5 million of capital works, funding 'generational' projects such as a regional conservatorium and a sporting precinct alongside roads, stormwater harvesting, and water and sewer infrastructure.
Underway now
Water security — stormwater harvesting & Macquarie pipeline
Ongoing (schemes operating; drought resilience program)After severe droughts, Orange diversified its drinking-water sources into Suma Park Dam via one of Australia's first large-scale urban stormwater-harvesting schemes (Blackmans Swamp Creek and Ploughmans Creek) and the Macquarie River pipeline, together supplying a substantial share of the city's water and improving drought resilience.
Euchareena Road landfill — next stage & methane biofilters
Landfill next stage from 2024; biofilters installed 2025The council is developing the next stage of its Euchareena Road Resource Recovery Centre and has installed biofilters to cut methane emissions from the landfill, alongside a public push to divert food and garden waste into the FOGO green bin.
Source: Orange City Council — Contract awarded for next stage of landfill site
Planned / committed
'Generational' community projects — conservatorium & sporting precinct
Funded through the 2026/27 budget and forward programThe council's budget provides for major community infrastructure described as 'generational' projects, including a regional conservatorium and a sporting precinct, alongside continued spending on roads, footpaths and water infrastructure.
Source: Orange City Council — Responsible budget with focus on generational projects