The Bathurst Orange Development Corporation 1972-1988
- Hugh O'Reilly
The establishment of the Bathurst Orange Growth Centre was announced by the NSW Government in October 1972.
This followed years of discussion about the need to ease pressure on Sydney and distribute economic growth and population around the state. Other areas considered were somewhere on the mid North Coast (around Coffs Harbour) and in the south of the state, which ended up being Albury, as part of the Albury-Wodonga Growth Centre.
To manage the Growth Centre, the NSW Government established the Bathurst-Orange Development Corporation from the 1st July 1974. Briefly, the Corporation’s role was to “promote, co-ordinate, manage and secure the orderly and economic development of the Growth Centre.
This followed years of discussion about the need to ease pressure on Sydney and distribute economic growth and population around the state. Other areas considered were somewhere on the mid North Coast (around Coffs Harbour) and in the south of the state, which ended up being Albury, as part of the Albury-Wodonga Growth Centre.
To manage the Growth Centre, the NSW Government established the Bathurst-Orange Development Corporation from the 1st July 1974. Briefly, the Corporation’s role was to “promote, co-ordinate, manage and secure the orderly and economic development of the Growth Centre.
Pictured here is an image of the Motor Lodge shown in a BODC promotional brochure circa 70's. Our Club currently meets here every Wednesday.
In addition, the Corporation had the authority, in its own right, to undertake residential, commercial and industrial land and building developments in the Growth Centre. This involved working closely with local Councils in Bathurst, Orange and Blayney on a generally harmonious basis.
The Commonwealth Government also became involved and provided loan funding to assist in the acquisition of land.
Under the concept, a New City was to be established at Vittoria, between Bathurst and Orange; it was envisaged that the population would expand to about 240,000, with a 110,000 in the New City, Orange 60,000, Bathurst 50,000, Blayney 10,000 and another 10,000 in the various villages around the area. Although not done through the Corporation, the Central Mapping Authority relocated to Bathurst in 1976 and became a very successful example of what could be achieved with the proper level of resources and political support.
However, by the late 1970’s, 1980 it was realised that development of the New City was unrealistic. Attitudes to how decentralisation should be achieved changed and changes in both the Commonwealth and State governments resulted in waning political support for the Growth Centre. The Commonwealth Government withdrew its support in the early 1980’s.
I joined the staff of the Corporation in December 1981 as Finance Officer and by then the New City concept had been abandoned and the role of the Corporation focused on residential and industrial estate development in Bathurst, Orange and Blayney plus attracting industry and services to the area. Over the period from 1982 through 1986/7, some successful developments were completed.
However, whilst these developments were successful, the revenue generated and increases in land values were insufficient to be able to repay the original loan funds used to acquire the land.
In 1988, the State government made the decision to close the Corporation and I left in October 1988. My understanding is that the various land banks held by the Corporation were allocated to Bathurst, Orange and Blayney Councils and I suspect the loan fund debts were written off.
Overall, while the New City idea was, with hindsight unrealistic, the Corporation did leave some positive legacies for the area including a number of residential and industrial estates and assisted in the establishment of a number of businesses and services.
The Commonwealth Government also became involved and provided loan funding to assist in the acquisition of land.
Under the concept, a New City was to be established at Vittoria, between Bathurst and Orange; it was envisaged that the population would expand to about 240,000, with a 110,000 in the New City, Orange 60,000, Bathurst 50,000, Blayney 10,000 and another 10,000 in the various villages around the area. Although not done through the Corporation, the Central Mapping Authority relocated to Bathurst in 1976 and became a very successful example of what could be achieved with the proper level of resources and political support.
However, by the late 1970’s, 1980 it was realised that development of the New City was unrealistic. Attitudes to how decentralisation should be achieved changed and changes in both the Commonwealth and State governments resulted in waning political support for the Growth Centre. The Commonwealth Government withdrew its support in the early 1980’s.
I joined the staff of the Corporation in December 1981 as Finance Officer and by then the New City concept had been abandoned and the role of the Corporation focused on residential and industrial estate development in Bathurst, Orange and Blayney plus attracting industry and services to the area. Over the period from 1982 through 1986/7, some successful developments were completed.
However, whilst these developments were successful, the revenue generated and increases in land values were insufficient to be able to repay the original loan funds used to acquire the land.
In 1988, the State government made the decision to close the Corporation and I left in October 1988. My understanding is that the various land banks held by the Corporation were allocated to Bathurst, Orange and Blayney Councils and I suspect the loan fund debts were written off.
Overall, while the New City idea was, with hindsight unrealistic, the Corporation did leave some positive legacies for the area including a number of residential and industrial estates and assisted in the establishment of a number of businesses and services.