Council accepted a report outlining plans for a mountain bike trail including 73 kilometres of track within the Mount Canobolas State Conservation Area.

Despite concerns raised by the public and by environmental groups.

Council still intends to proceed with a plan which will result in the destruction of what is regarded by many as the most important conservation reserve in the region.

Work done by local ecologists has identified the existence of species and ecosystems that are found nowhere else on earth and would be in danger of extinction should council be allowed to carve up the mountain with 73 kilometres of bike track.

Should this plan proceed, Orange and District will gain an elaborate mountain bike track at the expense of a unique, irreplaceable natural environment.

A further decision made at the meeting will also cause environmental concern.

Having received Heritage approval for the removal of 250 trees from the Bloomfield Sporting Precinct site, council voted to proceed to do so as soon as possible.

There are many in our community who will be incensed that these trees will be destroyed, with more to follow should subsequent stages of the development be approved.

Much has been written about the value of the existing mature trees and about alternative sites for the precinct which are more environmentally friendly.

These pleas have fallen on deaf ears.

The third decision by council which should worry environmentalists was the proposal to extend the capacity of the Blackmans Swamp stormwater harvesting scheme.

This was eloquently opposed by speakers at the public forum who described the harmful environmental impacts that any further extraction of water would have on the health of the Summer Hill Creek, as well as restricting the extraction of water licensed for irrigation.

Council's response was mostly about concern for the impact on irrigation.

These decisions reflect a lack of sensitivity towards environmental issues, and a refusal to acknowledge and respond to the environmental challenges confronting our community.

Our council appears to be out of touch with the increasing community awareness of the value of our natural environment, how precious it is to us, and how it should be conserved and valued, not subjected to continual exploitation.