NSW Primary Industries Minister, Ian Macdonald, this week said he would put off last week’s decision to close Griffith, following a meeting in Wagga Wagga with a delegation from the Griffith community led by Country Labor MLC, Tony Catanzariti.

Mr Macdonald said the delegation had raised “strong alternatives” to closure, which he would consider before making a final decision in the next few weeks, after visiting the facility.

The steering committee appointed to come up with alternative proposals argued for Griffith to be retained and research expanded.

Its second preference was to transfer staff to the former CSIRO research station also in Griffith, now owned by Murrumbidgee Irrigation, which leases some of the facilities to the CSIRO.

But the committee is believed to have opposed any move to transfer staff to the Department of Primary Industries station at Yanco.

Griffith has about 15 staff, including three district agronomists, two irrigation officers and a horticulture officer, plus laboratories and staff associated with fruit fly control.

Their territories stretch north and west from Hillston and into Cobar Shire and to Carrathool and Hay, and a move to Yanco would add considerably to travelling times.

Steering committee chairman, Mike Hedditch, said the committee was “extremely pleased” the minister had agreed to delay his decision.