The industrial park planned for Orange airport should only be used for aviation-related industries, according to council election candidate Cr Ron Gander.
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At his campaign launch Cr Gander said he was opposed to the Spring Hill land being open to any industry.
“I have no problem with that provided it is aviation-related as in exporting fruit, a helicopter repair base or something,” he said.
“But I definitely don’t want a steel mill out there or an abbattoir or something like that, that may put the aquifer at risk.
“I think that it’s prime agriculture land and if we are producing stuff we need to get it out, particularly if it’s being exported and for that reason there are practical uses for an industrial park at the airport.”
The airport industrial park has become a key issue in the council election with several candidates calling for the land to be sold while others support its retention.
Cr Gander said council had land options for other industries.
“Council owns the old saleyards, the wonderful thing about that is it has rail access.
“Out Dane Lane, Clergate Road, there are numerous spots where we can develop.
“If they have to buy more land let’s not buy prime producing land, let’s buy land that is adequate for industrial use and develop that.”
Justeene Cleary, Janelle Roarty Calder, Alyson Yager, Tammy Warburton, Michael Middleton and Peter Calder are on Cr Gander’s ticket which is the largest in the election.
Cr Gander said having seven members ensured that if one candidate had to drop out they would still have the necessary numbers to maintain a ticket with the all-important box above their names on the ballot paper.
They launched their campaign at the showgrounds on Wednesday and pledged to fight for its restoration.
“I would like to see the showground restored because in 1908 the older buildings here came from the Sydney showground. It is heritage listed and it has a great history,” Cr Gander said.
He said many of his team were involved in efforts to save the showgrounds nine years ago after he read of a council plan to sell them off.
“As a person who grew up in East Orange I was determined to do my best to stop this process,” he said.
Cr Gander called for consolidation and said they wanted council to complete current projects before starting on new schemes.