Orange's Esso Park in land swap, renaming and upgrading plan

Cr Russell Turner has called for a land swap that would see Esso Park on Woodward Street extended to Summer Street to include two council-owned blocks of land.

One of them, a former shop site on the Summer Street corner, has sat vacant on the entrance to the CBD area since council bought and demolished it.

In exchange Cr Turner said the equivalent amount of land in the park fronting Hamer Street could be sold off as residential blocks for housing.

It is also proposed council look at changing the name of the park.

Council was told the park had become a de facto car parking lot and needed rejuvenation.

Cr Turner said since council had bought the former shop and service station sites they had been unable to re-sell them.

"We have put feelers out to interests to purchase that block and my understanding is we've had virtually no interest," he said.

"Understandably so, because if you put a business or a house on that corner how do you get driveway access etc?

"In no way am I looking at reducing the area of Esso Park, just slide it down towards the roundabout a little bit and with the equivalent of that amount of land facing Hamer Street, preferably, perhaps [sell] two or three residential blocks to create a little bit more housing.

"I think it's an ideal opportunity to upgrade the park."

He said the park had a section of 'nice roses' which could be moved as part of the plan.

"We might even look at re-naming the park. I don't think the name Esso Park has any significance anymore to very few people," he said.

Cr Turner said 12-18 months of planning and consultation would be needed before it could happen.

Mayor Cr Reg Kidd said council needed to sell off or use its unused properties.

"My bugbear is our dead assets," he said.

"We spent an incredible amount of money on purchasing Aspros shop and that house and knocked them down."

Cr Tony Mileto supported the plan.

"I drove past that park yesterday and there were eight cars parked in there on the grass. It is certainly being used for a parking station," he said.

Cr Mileto said if the parking was not allowed there "it should be addressed."

Cr Kevin Duffy said council should also look at upgrading other underused parks around Orange.

Cr Scott Munro said it was an opportunity to beautify the corner.

Council agreed to investigate the proposal.

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