Proposed public parkland to be reclassified and potentially sold off

Orange City Council has proposed to reclassify 27 public parkland sites from "Community Land" to "Operational Land". Currently the "Community land" classification places a number of restrictions on how the land may be used or developed. Operational land imposses no such restrictions at all. If the land is reclassified as "Operational Land" it is then able to be sold off to developers!

This land was previously donated to the residents of Orange by developers when new estate areas were subdiveded and it was a requirement under regulations by the council. Seven years later the developer is not required to maintain these parklands and the maintenance becomes the responsibility of the council. The council have recently deemed theses 27 parks in question to be unviable to maintain due to cost.

Some of the parks have been maintained and admired by neighbouring residents. Some parks are as old as 43 years, some with playgrounds, others with cricket pitches mowed and marked out by families in the community.

I among other Orange residents would like to see this land remain in the hands of the community!

• Orange City Council
• Public Open Space