Orange mayor John Davis said the mine was the envy of all others because it was the most cost-efficient goldmine in Australia. 

For that reason he said any speculation on how Orange would survive after the mine closed was “looking for a negative in a positive”.

“It has many, many years left,” he said. 

“Yes we’ve had a downturn ... but without it I’d hate to think where we’d be. If there was ever a problem here at Cadia, heaven forbid, all the other mine sites across Australia would be gone.”

There was a significant downturn in the amount of money directed into the Orange economy when compared to the same report for 2012-2013.

According to the minerals council $402 million flowed directly into the Orange economy in the 2012-2013 financial year compared to $247.9 million last financial year. 

The survey found that in the local government area of Orange, 302 businesses benefited from nearly $300 million in spending on goods and services by mining companies in 2012-13 but in 2013-2014 only 195 businesses directly benefited. 

Across the central western region $1 billion was directly spent by mining companies on wages, goods and services in 2012-13 but last financial year $800 million was directed in the central west. 

But Cr Davis is confident in the next five years the region would see “a number of “ mining companies set up in the central west.

He said it would take about five years given the economic climate and the price of gold meant now was not the right time to do so. 

The NSW Minerals Council’s latest expenditure survey shows 868 businesses were supported by mining in the central west and about $2.3 million was donated to 349 community groups. 

Mining also contributed almost $9 million in rates and developer contributions in the central west in the 2013/2014 financial year.

nicole.kuter@

fairfaxmedia.com.au