I AM concerned that there seems to be confusion between the airport activities and the proposed airport industrial-business park.
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In extending the runway, the airport precinct was enlarged by hundreds of acres. Much of this land should now be available for airport-related industries.
In fact, a council press release in April, 2012 declared that the airport expansion “when operational will add 126 full-time positions to the regional economy in its first five years”.
By December, 2014 the mayor stood with state and federal representatives and “estimated the airport upgrades will create more than 200 jobs and $177 million in investment to 2017”.
The question should be asked, where are the jobs, where is the money and how did they get it so wrong?
It must be said that the terminal upgrade and surrounding facilities are good but, on investigation, it can be seen that the extension of the runway was totally unnecessary. REX did not need it and the FIFO flights ceased before the work was completed.
In proceeding with this project the council was so excited they bought the land even before the state government approved it.
Council came up with the industrial zoning of the land surrounding the airport. Once again they bought the land before any approval was granted. Now the ratepayers of Orange are paying the price.
The activities permitted within the airport precinct are totally different to the heavy industry proposed for the so-called industrial-business park which would surround the airport.
People are either unaware of the difference or deliberately confusing the issue.