An extraordinary meeting has been convened by the Orange City Council to explore options for an indoor play centre following the eviction of over half a dozen community groups. In November 2025, three Rotary clubs, two Lions clubs, a Probus club, and Premi Babes were removed from the Redmond Place Hanger, a facility previously used for storage. The council’s decision to terminate existing arrangements with these groups was made unanimously, with the intention of creating a permanent indoor play centre at the site located off Bathurst Road.
Shortly after the evictions, the council invited expressions of interest from potential operators for the indoor play centre, with submissions due by December 10, 2025. The decision to evict sparked significant disappointment among the affected groups, prompting some councillors to reconsider their stance. Deputy Mayor Tammy Greenhalgh, who had initially supported the eviction, expressed her change of heart on social media, stating, “These community groups are the heart and soul of our community raising much needed funds and deserve more respect, something that is lacking.”
Councillors Seek Resolution
With no regular council meeting scheduled until February 3, 2026, and the community groups required to vacate the facility by February 20, 2026, Cr Greenhalgh, along with Councillors Kevin Duffy and Judge, called for an extraordinary meeting. “This meeting is about doing the right thing by our community,” Cr Greenhalgh emphasized. The purpose of the meeting is to review the expressions of interest for the proposed indoor playground and to seek a fair resolution for the eviction notices issued last year.
Documents released prior to the meeting indicate that a new storage location has been identified for the affected community groups. Council staff have proposed relocating the groups to the Orange Showground. This plan includes the relocation of two shipping containers and the purchase of a third container for community use. Ongoing maintenance of the facilities would fall under the council’s responsibilities.
Proposed Support for Community Groups
As part of the proposal, the council aims to provide vehicle storage space in the cattle pavilion and access to a meeting room, kitchen, and toilets at the Environmental Learning Facility. If the councillors approve the motion during the meeting scheduled for January 22, 2026, the community groups will then have four weeks to either accept or decline the relocation offer.
This extraordinary meeting represents a crucial moment for the community groups impacted by the eviction. The outcome could significantly impact their ability to continue their operations and contribute to the local community.
