Brucedale community residents are concerned that they will lose control over nearby industrial developments under a NSW government plan to boost Wagga's economy.
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The government has proposed a 4500-hectare special activation precinct around the existing Bomen industrial area, which would fast-track planning to attract new businesses and create 6000 jobs.
Dozens of residents, whose homes and small farms overlook the site for the precinct, fear their quality of life will suffer.
Wagga business owners Stephen and Lisa Granger moved to Brucedale, about 13 kilometres north of the city, for the lifestyle it provided.
"We have three kids who we're raising out here, so we could have animals and the kids could have the space to roam around," Lisa said.
Stephen said the "community would lose control" over which industries gained development approval, with rules subject to ministerial discretion
"We don't exactly know what is going to happen, but we have seen the plans and they say there could be smoke stacks within a kilometre of our house," he said.
The government is due to release planning policies for "environmentally sensitive areas" and specific land uses in the precinct.
Cheryl Cartwright lives on Mary Gilmore Road, which is on the precinct's northern boundary.
"I'm closest to the railway and it's the noise that I'm particularly concerned about," she said.
NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro unveiled the precinct's draft master plan last month, with public feedback being accepted until September 15.
A spokesperson for Mr Barilaro said the government was committed to "establishing a world-class business precinct focused on innovation and excellence in sustainability in Wagga".
"Protecting the amenity and biodiversity is important to us as well as protecting the community's amenity, which is why there are detailed criteria included in the draft master plan around controls for noise, air quality or odour impacts, with mitigation and management measures to be outlined in the delivery plan," the spokesperson said.
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"To ensure greater protection for the community, we have also proposed a 3170-hectare Rural Activity Zone, for lower impact land use, which will act as a buffer between the more industrial aspects of the precinct and residential communities."
Brucedale resident Patricia Murray said the buffer zone was also a concern.
"If you read the fine print, that's where they can put solar installations up to 35 hectares ... at present we look over grazing paddocks and canola, and that could all be gone," she said.