These modern abattoir buildings and associated infrastructure sit on 35 hectares of industrial land surrounded by a further 350 hectares of some industrial and mostly rural land known as the abattoir lands on Clergate Road.

The major employment opportunities we envisaged could come not only from abattoir, flour milling, food processing, milk processing and data processing industries, but also all possible uses like residential accommodation and any retrofit uses for these modern buildings and associated infrastructure.

Some 12 months ago as a result of our national and international promotion of these opportunities I believe we were able to identify and attract the interest of a major, high-value project of international significance for the former abattoir lands on Clergate Road.

We have been advised by the representatives of this company that this high-value Industry has the potential to employ up to 700 locally-based highly skilled employees.

Let it be clear: it is not Orange City Council providing the above-mentioned 700 jobs for Orange.

Nor is it a fact that we do not already have suitable industrial land available, as well as other suitable lands that could be rezoned to industrial use in as little as three to six months under the gateway provisions applying to significant industries offering major employment opportunities.

A small portion of the 350 hectares of industrial and rural land off Clergate Road is available, being far better located and suited to this industry with all the services available.

There is the possibility to reinstate the rail facilities, and the site is well away from major aquifers and Orange’s precious water catchment area.

The development on this site will not adversely impact the more valuable rural lands or the airport precinct, being the major passenger and air transport gateway to our city.

I have always acknowledged and I have made council staff and my own planning consultants well aware that if the former abattoir industrial site were to go back to an abattoir or heavy-industry use there could not be and we would not be pursuing a rural-residential subdivision on our adjoining lands, both uses being highly incompatible land uses.

With the high value of the existing buildings and services on the former abattoir site we initially proactively pursued a development project that would bring with it significant employment prospects, given that this city was facing the loss of the Electrolux jobs at that time.

Some two years later and only due to our inability – despite our best efforts – to attract a major employment user for the site up to that time we sought approval for rural subdivision.

This has not yet been fully approved.

Accordingly, this opportunity to redevelop the site for the proposed project mentioned earlier still exists.

We remain in a position to develop the abattoir lands so as to deliver the best outcome for our city.

I have remained silent on this whole matter up until now in the interest of securing this major industry, with its long-term benefits, for our city.

I will continue to work with this prospective major employer in an endeavour to satisfy its requirements so as to bring this industry to Orange.

Kind regards,