The idea was contentious from the time it was first raised at a Spring Hill community meeting two years ago and the first concern on residents’ lips was the possible impact on the water catchment.

The area is not only known for providing high-quality bore water to its residents and their farms, but the water also flows into the town’s drinking supply.

Orange City Council has tried to assure residents it can handle the challenge.

After all, it implemented stormwater harvesting successfully and its drinking water has previously won awards for being the best in the state.

Even with two downsizings, which left the 114-hectare proposal less than half its original size, and an environmental assessment stating significant contamination risk is unlikely, residents remain unsure.

Their uncertainty has not been helped by other moves by council while it has waited for the crucial rezoning determination from the NSW Department of Planning.

One involved applying for, and then proceeding without government approval, an internal loan from the council’s sewer fund to cover land it bought for the project – a decision is still pending.

The latest was setting aside almost $6 million in the 2017-18 budget to develop the business park’s water and sewer needs.

Neither of these events mean the project will go ahead – it cannot without the government’s approval.

It is reasonable to expect councils to plan ahead so that when approvals and grants present themselves, projects are ready to go.

But to budget for the project when the councillors have not considered the results from public submissions would appear to put the cart before the horse.

Considering public submissions closed in January and the budget planning process takes place around March each year, we would expect due consideration will be given when the decision is made. 

With others like member for Orange Phil Donato and The Greens’ election ticket also raising concerns, a speedy consideration of submissions and further detail about how water catchment protection measures, such as excavation limits and chemical storage, would be enforced might make this major job creation project easier to sell.