CONCERNS about Q-fever have been raised as debate continues on the merits of the proposed $38 million goat abattoir at Blayney.
Residents are worried about the risk of catching Q-fever as a result of re-developing the existing facility, situated within the town limits.
Millthorpe resident John Shepherd spoke at a Blayney Shire Council meeting pleading with the council to ensure residents wouldn't be put at risk of catching Q-fever, an illness caused by the bacteria, Coxiella burnetii.
A health care practitioner, Dr Shepherd was familiar with Q-fever and was willing to assist Blayney Shire Council to avoid the problems faced by other councils which had allowed construction of a rangeland goat abattoir near a town or city.
Dr Shepherd said if Blayney council continued to support the proposal they were "placing the health, longevity, and even lives of some of your community at risk, for doubtful short-term benefit".
Dr Shepherd said the reason he addressed council was to convince councillors and staff the Blayney SeaLink Industrial Estate was the wrong site for the development.
Following the council meeting late last month, Blayney mayor Scott Ferguson said nobody could argue against the value of jobs to the region and the capital investment in the shire which council welcomed.
"This is a green field site which proposes to utilise new technology and will be a state-of-the-art modern abattoir facility and council has supported this project in principle from the beginning."
Blayney Shire Council is not the consent authority for this development because it is classed as a State Significant Development.
JPA Business managing director James Price, speaking for abattoir developer Metziya, declined to comment on the Q-fever concerns.
"We are working through the state government planning process for the abattoir," Mr Price said.
"If approval is received the new business will generate major export income, economic benefits and more than 165 new full time direct jobs.
"We have no further comment at this point."
The Australian Q-Fever Register lists the Q-fever organism as highly infectious, and exposure to as little as one to 10 individual bacteria may be sufficient to infect a person.
People can become infected through any close contact with material contaminated with the bacteria, such as handling animals or animal products or drinking unpasteurised milk from infected animals.
Local Land Services (LLS) regional veterinarian Bruce Watt, Bathurst, said there was little that could be done to reduce the spread.
"The crucial issue is anybody at high risk needs to get vaccinated because there is no vaccine available for livestock and Q-fever is spread by wind and dust, so it is very hard to contain," he said.
