Industrial plan delayed six months until public meetings resume

Orange City Council agreed to delay the public exhibition period for the Blayney Cabonne Orange Subregional Industrial and Rural Lands draft strategy for six months following requests from John Da Rin and Anne Salter.

The draft acknowledged the role air transport and associated light industry played in the development of Dubbo, Armidale and Tamworth.

"While there is not an immediate need for additional industrial land, the strategy supports the identification of land for this form of development at the airport," the draft said.

"This period of complete upset [with COVID-19] is not an appropriate time to be placing a major document on public exhibit," Ms Salter said.

Proposed industrial development at the airport played a decisive role in the outcome of the 2017 council elections - the previous council supported an industrial precinct before the current council voted it down.

Mayor Reg Kidd said after the meeting objectors had valid arguments with regard to the water table in Spring Hill.

"I would encourage people to have a look at [the strategy] because in reality, it affects everybody," he said.

The draft strategy also recommended a review of Orange's urban growth strategy to limit development allowed on the region's Towac soils - the soils are located around Mount Canobolas and recognised as having high agricultural value.

It also recommended to preserve areas of Mount Canobolas from mining activity.

"Mining, like other land uses, is not suited to every location, and while the industry remains an important economic driver, it needs to co-exist with agriculture and tourism," the report said.

"Mount Canobolas does not provide a suitable location for mining activities."