The proposed rezoning location has never been identified or permitted for industrial use because it lies at a geologically and hydrologically valuable location within the Canobolas Tertiary Basalt Complex. 

The proposed rezoning area will be situated upon the valuable Orange Basalt Fractured Rock Groundwater Aquifer, one of Australia's highest quality aquifers, which is utilised extensively for domestic, agriculture and municipal use.

Water is our lifeblood and as such we need to preserve it. 

The proposed rezoning of the Huntley/Spring area surrounding the Orange airport is situated right on the catchment divide of the Lachlan and Macquarie rivers. 

As such, it is an important water setting where surface water recharges the Basalt Groundwater Aquifer. 

As is espoused by all political parties and government and private agencies the importance of primary industries to the NSW economy is widely recognised.

The importance of having sound and safe policies to ensure the long term viability of this industry is critical.   

This is exactly why we need to preserve some of Australia’s highest productive land on the Orange Basalt plateau – right on our doorstep in the Huntley/Spring Hill area.

There needs to be a balanced consideration given to the available vacant land that can be best utilised for the most sustainable industries with zero risk to the water catchment and prime agricultural land.

Large amounts of already zoned vacant industrial land is available within the Orange LGA and within the sub region. 

As has been stated many times by real estate agents and the ratepayers of Orange, there is limited demand for industrial land both within and outside our region, and, increasingly, large industrial activities are being pushed offshore where more favourable economies of scale may be achieved.

Is there a community benefit?  We would say absolutely not. 

There needs to be a balance between economic growth and environmental management. 

This requires prudent fiscal management, appropriate resource allocation and utilization of existing infrastructure regionally. 

Ultimately there must be a limit to sustainable population growth for our region. 

The burgeoning population growth will demand more and more clean and green produce and valuable and highly product agricultural land will increasingly be at a premium. 

Any pollution to our land or our water will ultimately be borne by the public and the ratepayer.

By working with our neighboring regions and protecting what is essentially and environmentally precious can we contribute, as a community, economically, socially and sustainably.

Councils play an important role in aiding our community and is essential in delivering a broad range of services to us all.

We encourage this and look forward to working with an open, transparent and accountable new Orange City Council.