YOUR LOCAL
COUNCIL AT WORK COUNCIL ASKS COMMUNITY TO HELP DEVELOP STRATEGY TO PROTECT OUR ‘URBAN FOREST’ s
The ‘Colour City’ is well-known for its tree-lined streets.
Orange City Council is asking
reputation as the Colour City plays
cent, while Lucknow village had
pollution and maximising water
residents to share what they value
a significant role in attracting
coverage of 7 per cent and Spring
sensitive urban design. The draft
most about the city’s green spaces
tourism, businesses and residents
Hill village had 4.9 per cent tree
strategy will include a target for
to help develop an ‘Urban Forest
to Orange.
cover.
tree coverage,” Cr Mallard said.
Strategy’ for the Orange local
“There
community
Cr Mallard said the next step was
government area.
understanding of the importance
to develop a strategy that focused
“To make sure we get it right, we
Council has appointed consultants
of trees, the natural environment
on protecting and enhancing our
Active Green Services to produce
and open space in the economic,
existing green spaces, and where
the strategy, which looks at all
cultural,
mental
to prioritise the planting of new
trees, plants and areas of greenery
wellbeing of the community,” Cr
trees and plants for the greatest
in the city, how best to protect
Mallard said.
benefit.
Members of the community can
them and what we should focus on
Council commissioned a study
“The strategy will address elements
have their say by completing an
in future.
in 2022 to determine the extent
such as streetscapes, parks and
online survey and sharing their
of tree coverage over the region.
open spaces, tree preservation,
ideas on the YourSay Orange site at
Committee
The Orange urban area was found
biodiversity and habitat, the effects
https://yoursay.orange.nsw.gov.
Chair David Mallard said Orange’s
to have tree coverage of 17.3 per
of climate change, reducing air
au/orange-urban-forest-strategy.
Council’s Sustainability
Environmental Policy
is
growing
physical
and
want as many people as possible to share their opinions to help us shape the plan’s vision, objectives and actions.”
CELEBRATING 60 YEARS OF MEALS ON WHEELS Meals on Wheels is celebrating 60 years of delivering meals in Orange.
to maintain their independence at home,” Cr McDonell said.
The first meals were delivered in Orange on 10 June 1963 and its ongoing service has been made possible by hundreds of volunteers.
“But it is much more than just a meal. The program is a fantastic way to prevent loneliness and support people in need. A friendly smile, a chat, a meal and knowing somebody will drop by to say hello, can make all the difference.”
A morning tea will be held to thank the current volunteers who are involved in the program, which is part of Orange City Council’s Choices at Home service. Orange City Council Services Committee Chair, Cr Mel McDonell has congratulated the volunteer teams who deliver meals in Orange. “Choices at Home has about 80 volunteers doing an amazing job delivering about 450 meals a week, enabling frail older people and people living with disability
girl along with me to deliver meals. Now, even my sister and both my daughters are part of the program.” “I’ve made so many friendships over the years and gathered tonnes of hilarious stories. You know, in the early days, the meals weren’t frozen, so we would dish them up right at the client’s house. Let me tell you, it
Ninety-four-year-old Edna Sharp has been volunteering with Meals on Wheels since it began in Orange in 1963.
could get tricky. One time, I had this
“I’ve been doing Meals on Wheels since it started 60 years ago, and I don’t plan on stopping anytime soon,” Mrs Sharp said.
break for it and spilled everywhere.
“I got into Meals on Wheels through the Uniting Church and, back in the day, I used to take my little baby
those living with a disability maintain
www.orange.nsw.gov.au
|
pot of soup in the back of my car, driving all around Orange, and guess what? The soup decided to make a What a mess!” Choices at Home offers a range of services to help frail older people or their quality of life while living at home.
s Edna Sharpe has been delivering Meals on Wheels for 60 years.
Contact Choices at Home on 6393 8968 to find out more about their services, or becoming a volunteer, or visit 144 March Street between 8.30am and 4.30pm Monday to Friday. Meals on Wheels NSW is partially subsidised by the Australian Government’s Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP).
Find us on social media @ Orange City Council
ORANGE CITY LIFE | JUNE 1 — 7, 2023
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