'Shortsighted view' on airport business park : Mayor

Both Councils this week (December 2016) voted to oppose the rezoning.

Cr Davis said the decisions were based on flawed assessments of what is good for the region.

“It beggars belief that we have councils talking that they are behind job creation and then we get decisions like this. They spruik support for new jobs but their actions tell us something very different.”

“When jobs are created in Orange some of these jobs provide livelihoods for families in Blayney and Cabonne. Councillors Geoff Braddon and David Kingham of Blayney got that and I understand a number of councillors in Cabonne also took a regional view.

"Unfortunately that practical approach was in the minority.

“This is not to say that the airport proposal should get an easy ride or a green light. But the stance Blayney and Cabonne have taken is that it should not even get to first base for assessment against proper planning considerations.”

“There are large scale development opportunities that cannot be currently accommodated in Orange. If we can’t accommodate them, they may not come to Blayney or Cabonne. They will head to a very thankful Wagga Wagga or Tamworth or somewhere else near a large workforce and allied businesses.”

“This is not to say that there aren’t development opportunities in Blayney or Cabonne but they won’t and shouldn’t be realised by limiting opportunities in Orange.”

The councils’ opposition to the rezoning proposal is based on claims of negative land sale impacts across Council boundaries, a suggested downturn in the Orange economy meaning there is no short term need for new employment lands and a recent decision by the Joint Regional Planning Panel (JRPP) regarding land around the old Orange abattoir.

Cr Davis said Blayney and Cabonne councils were also relying on the Blayney, Cabonne and Orange City Sub-Regional Rural and Industrial Lands Use Strategy.

“It was developed in 2008. They are relying on an outdated strategy that has been an abysmal failure in delivering industrial growth in their council areas.”

Cr Davis took the opportunity to address the Blayney Council meeting before it considered the report. Blayney Council voted 5-2 to oppose the rezoning.

“Industrial land sales in Blayney were at best flat and there were moves from one industrial estate owner to seek a back zoning from industrial to residential. I also advised that while the Electrolux closure was a significant challenge the current data shows that the number of people in employment in Orange was increasing and the number of unemployed was falling.”

“The unemployment rate in Orange in September 2015 was 7 per cent and in September 2016 it was 4.5 per cent. I also noted the Cadia fluctuation was expected when it went from the construction phase to operational. Even if the case could be made that economic momentum in Orange had stalled I fail to understand how limiting industrial development opportunities in Orange would help the region.”

“The Blayney Council report also selectively quoted the JRPP decision on the land around the former Orange abattoir.

"The JRPP actually said the regional land use strategy document could no longer be relied upon. At the same time the JRPP also supported Orange City Council’s industrial land use strategy that includes the airport proposal.”

“A senior Blayney staff member also advised the Blayney councillors that the airport rezoning should not be supported because the site was “in the middle of nowhere”.

That might be valid except for the fact that the site is next to an airport and rail line, has gas through the site, connections to water and sewer under way and is 10 minutes to the edge of the city of Orange.”

“The 5-7 years quoted does not meet the typical land use planning target that seeks to maintain a 15-20 year supply.

And the strategy Cabonne and Blayney are relying on actually says short-term is up to ten years.”

“We do not and have not sought to intervene in other councils planning decisions.

"All we ask is the same courtesy.”