Council approved the development in August but Brian Lukins and Dick Millgate said they remained opposed to it.

Mr Millgate said it did not fit the amenity of the area and with eight car parks for potentially 28 residents it would create parking problems.

He said the development application [DA] was approved by council officers and did not go to the full council.

Mr Millgate said he filed a submission opposing the development and believed other objections were filed.

“I put in an objection and the next thing I know it was approved,” he said.

“It is totally out of character, there are homes all around it.”

Mr Millgate said the car parking was inadequate.

“Possibly 28 persons could reside on the premises which would mean more cars would have to be parked in only eight spaces meaning most vehicles would have to park on the Mitchell Highway [Molong Road],” he said.

Mr Lukins said he was concerned about living next door to the development.

“I’ll have seven rooms looking over our fence,” he said.

“My main thing is whether Orange needs this high-density accommodation.”

Council spokesman Nick Redmond said there were a “number of objections” to the DA this year.

“These objections were considered and responded to in a written report that was prepared for the general manager [GM],” he said.

“This is the normal path taken for projects of this scale.

“Most DAs to be decided by the council are assessed by staff and considered under delegation by the GM under a long-standing council policy, known as the Declaration of Planning and Development Assessment Procedures and Protocols.

“The GM approved this project under delegation.”

The developer Greg Kings said this “new-generation boarding house” was different to a general boarding house under “very strict guidelines” approved by the state government.

“We are making these ‘suite rooms’ fully self-contained which would be more like a small studio apartment,” he said.

“Hence it is particular clientele [professional] that will be renting them.

“[That is] Orange hospital medical staff, nurses, doctors and specialists along with other professional services staff, teachers, police, ambulance, fire and rescue and management professionals on employment assignments of six months to three years.”