Blayney real estate agent David Kennedy said that questions needed to be asked about what kinds of impacts that the ten year project will have on the shire, and in particular the residents.

“Good on Regis Resources for identifying a commercial opportunity that will make them a lot of money over the next ten years, but what we haven’t had is a discussion about what is the outcome for Blayney over the next ten to fifteen years,” he said.

Of concern to Mr Kennedy, who admits that the mine will adversely and directly affect his own property nearby, is the impact that the open-cut mine will have on the landscape and on rental prices during the mine’s life.

“It will be a stinking great hole that will have no purpose whatsoever, and mining companies are very good at telling communities what they think we need to hear, and not look at some of the realities of some of the failures of mines to protect the environment,” he said.

Mr Kennedy believes that Regis Resources have been very shrewd in their dealings with surrounding property owners.

“By taking small group and individual owners one on one, not as a group, you’re only hearing the good news, and a lot of people are loathe to say anything in anticipation of getting a big pay out, including me, but they’ve made all the acquisitions that they need to,” he said.

Mr Kennedy said that he also thinks that any talk of economic value created by the mine are also being exaggerated.

“It has the potential of driving up rental prices making accommodation unaffordable for the many low-income people in our social demographic.”