THE final decision on an industrial rezoning for Orange Airport will be left to the NSW Department of Planning after a rescission motion failed on Tuesday night.
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Councillors Kevin Duffy, Reg Kidd, Scott Munro and an absent Ron Gander put the motion forward after the council voted last month to rezone 114 hectares of primary production and environmental management land to a mix of light industrial and business park.
In an unprecedented move, discussions on the airport started with a statement from councillor Chris Gryllis through his solicitor, read to the chamber by mayor John Davis.
It said rumours had circulated suggesting Cr Gryllis had bought land and had been engaged to sell property around the airport.
“I [being Cr Gryllis] categorically deny this allegation and can say neither my wife nor I are interested in or have signed any documents to purchase land in the subject area,” he said.
“Furthermore in relation to my business, neither myself or any of my staff have any selling agency agreements to act as agents in the subject land or the vicinity.”
Five residents spoke on the item – Anne Salter said landowners were required to comply with groundwater vulnerability restrictions.
“In complete contrast to this, we see this proposed amendment to rezone from a highly protected zoning to the complete opposite of an industrial zone,” she said.
Cr Duffy asked what the rush was to pass the rezoning when the council needed to gain agreement from Cabonne and Blayney councils.
“It’s important we take those councils along with us,” he said.
Cr Munro said he wanted more risk management reporting after an incident at Brisbane Airport in April, where firefighting foam leaked into the Brisbane River and killed fish.
Councillor Neil Jones, who was absent for the original decision last month, was angered by the issue.
He questioned what had prompted the adding of rural industries as an extra land use and referred to a mooted proposal for 650 jobs.
“I think I know what that industry is, what that company is and what annoys me is councillors around this table haven’t had the opportunity to be briefed,” he said.
However, councillor Glenn Taylor said if councillors were briefed, it would be leaked to social media within an hour.
“If it becomes an election issue, so be it, if it’s the rack I perish on, so be it – I’ll support jobs,” he said.
The motion lost five to four.