AN analysis of water studies provided to the NSW Department of Planning and Environment supporting a proposed industrial business park at Orange Airport has prompted outcry from concerned Spring Hill residents, who say there is no clear understanding on water catchment impacts.
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Spring Hill and Surrounding Districts Consultative Committee members Sally Playfair and John Holliday, who is a geologist, said the Spring Hill bores were the only ones mentioned in the assessment, but they were located at the southeastern tip of the site.
The report, prepared by consultant CM Jewell and Associates, said it had been difficult to define the capture zone for the Spring Hill bores because water direction and magnitude were not well defined and the aquifer’s hydraulic characteristics were unknown, so the consultant estimated the exposure risk.
Mr Holliday said a basalt plain aquifer’s hydrogeology was complicated, so estimates were likely to be wrong.
“They’re two important bores, but there’s hundreds of bores, there’s an interlinkage between surface water and ground water and that hasn’t been considered,” he said.
“They don’t know the way the water is flowing in the ground and any water pollution is going to be a bit of a nightmare because they won’t know where it’s going to appear.”
The two were also doubtful the council could complete the Blayney Cabonne Orange Sub-regional Strategy review and required water and agricultural studies for the department before a decision was made on the proposed council amalgamation.
“It’s too big and there’s too many complications,” Ms Playfair said.
However, aerodrome committee chair and deputy mayor Chris Gryllis said the planning would continue irrespective of the amalgamation decision and a future council could ultimately vote it down.
“The water and other environmental issues will be dealt with by the appropriate departments,” he said.
“We can’t be vandals to the environment, especially council. “
Council spokesman Nick Redmond said water catchment impact had been one of the key aspects as the council designed the project because water would not be drawn from bores and effluent would be pumped away for treatment, while stormwater runoff from the city was already managed using stormwater harvesting ponds.
“These ponds deliver a significant improvement in water quality,” he said.
“The city will be drawing on this experience as the much smaller area of the business park is developed.”
A community meeting will be held at Spring Hill later this month.
danielle.cetinski@fairfaxmedia.com.au
