ORANGE Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Jeff Whitton says he “can’t find the words” to describe the impact the proposed $1.9 billion expansion to Cadia mines will have on the local economy.

However not everyone’s quite as thrilled, with Greens councillor and outspoken mining critic Jeremy Buckingham voicing concerns the massive expansion plan will have a detrimental impact on the environment.

Both men yesterday reacted to news Cadia Valley Operations has lodged a major project application with the NSW Department of Planning to create the largest underground mining operation in the country.

Mine management estimates at least $30 billion worth of gold could be dug up as part of the highly anticipated Cadia East project.

Planning has also begun to raise the wall of Rodds Creek dam by 15 metres to increase capacity by 14,500 megalitres, with CVO considering building a gas fired power station either on site or near Blayney to support energy demands, expected to double if the proposal eventuates.

Cr Whitton said the expansion would be embraced by the local business community and described Cadia’s continued presence in the city as “vital” given global economic uncertainty.

“I think it’s hard for people to grasp how big this plan is, it’s a bit of a well kept secret really,” he said.

“It’s the future of this city, not only Newcrest’s operations at Cadia but mining in generally because of the work and prosperity an operation of that size brings to any local arena. We haven’t’ really felt the effects of this global financial issue thanks to the fact we are being insulated by these large industries around us.”

Cr Jeremy Buckingham said he wanted to see more details of what is proposed and made the point that the “elephant in the room” was the fact power supply to Cadia needed to double to meet the expected demand.

“The elephant in the room is that the mine is considering building a gas fired power station. If that’s the case then I hold serious concerns about the green house gas emissions something like that would be responsible for,” Cr Buckingham said.

Cadia’s application will be assessed by the NSW Planning Department throughout next year, with a decision expected some time towards the end of 2009.