local_settings.py

## local_settings.py
## settings.py

TEMPLATE_DIRS = (
    os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), 'templates'),
)

try:
    from local_settings import *
except Exception:
    pass


## local_settngs.py


# tried with append
TEMPLATE_DIRS.append(os.path.abspath(os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__),
                             '../../ODC-overlay/templates')))

# tried calling the var
TEMPLATE_DIRS = (
    os.path.abspath(os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__),
                             '../../ODC-overlay/templates')),
    TEMPLATE_DIRS
)

# tried with the plus append
TEMPLATE_DIRS = ( os.path.abspath(os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__),
                             '../../ODC-overlay/templates')) ) + TEMPLATE_DIRS