The Cabonne Amalgamation No Thank You (ANTY) group said a push by eastern Cabonne residents for a boundary change to allow them to join Orange City Council put the future of Cabonne at risk.

Chairman Jock Haynes said the proposal may force Cabonne to be amalgamated by stealth.

“Our concern is that these significant boundary changes will cause the death of Cabonne Council and then make a merger inevitable,” he said.

“Whilst recognising the rights of all residents in Cabonne to assert their views and also that there is a proportion of residents who were in favour of the forced merger, the best interests for all of our communities must be considered.

“Significant boundary changes might very well render Cabonne unsustainable.”

Mr Haynes said the group would prefer to see ratepayers’ grievances resolved through consultation with the council.

“These residents no doubt have and will have some legitimate grievances, as many residents in any council area usually do, however, we hope that many of these issues can be addressed through consultation with respective council representatives.

“Cabonne should be looking to resolve any reasonable grievances with those pushing for boundary changes if they are to ensure their ongoing existence.

“However those wanting change need to be very wary of the motives and past actions of Orange City Council (OCC),” he said.

Mr Haynes said some past actions of OCC that were damaging to rural ratepayers included the rezoning of rural land for residential zoning adjacent to orchards and for industrial use at the proposed Orange Airport Industrial Zone.

And he said ratepayers should be concerned about the Hub waste facility, “where Orange City (and the NSW government) rode roughshod over the concerns of nearby farmers.”

The disgruntled residents are now seeking State government meetings.