Orange City Council celebrates controversial sports precinct approval amid community opposition

The first stage of a controversial sports precinct plan in central-western New South Wales has been given the green light, although some believe the site should be reserved for parkland. 

The Western Regional Planning Panel has approved a proposal to carry out earthworks, clear trees and demolish buildings on part of a former golf course at Orange. 

The Orange sporting precinct plan includes stadiums, playing fields and car parks at the Bloomfield precinct, between an existing sportsground and the Orange Health Service. 

Local Mayor Jason Hamling said he was «over the moon» with the progress so far.

«This is a project that I've been heavily involved with and this was part of my election campaign to get this sporting precinct started and finished,» he said.

«This is great news for the Orange, this is great news for the region. It's not only sports, there are cultural events.»

The project was initially earmarked for a greenfield site off the city's bypass, but it was later deemed inappropriate by the city's council, and the proposed location was moved to the current Bloomfield precinct. 

The decision prompted an outcry from some members of the community, who warned the site should instead be preserved as parkland. 

NSW Health, which owns the adjacent hospital, along with some medical professionals have opposed the location citing potential access issues during major sports events. 

«I'm disappointed but I sort of expected it,» Nick King of Environmentally Concerned Citizens of Orange (ECCO) said. 

«The people who have opposed this project have quite a lot of arguments based on best-practice planning, environmental issues, climate change issues, the public amenity, public use of open green space.»

Mr Hamling said measures will be