In August this year an application to build a Target store on the site of the Old Woollen Mills was controversially knocked back due to fears it would be too far outside the city’s central business district.

However a new report prepared by Orange City Council general manager Garry Styles has revealed four “capable developers” want to purchase the 7000 square metre Ophir Car Park site and develop it into a prime retail destination.

The Central Western Daily understands Target is linked to at least one of the four consortiums.

If sold, underground or above-ground decked parking would need to be incorporated into any development to ensure there is no loss of parking as well as meeting the demand generated by Target or other retailers.

If councillors agree to offload the car park at a meeting this Thursday, negotiations for its sale could begin as early as next week.

“We’re anticipating a retail study to be completed shortly will show a strong demand for more floorspace going forward and this site is ideally located to fill that gap,” Mr Styles said.

A spokesperson for Target yesterday said the company was looking at a range of options to establish a store in Orange but declined to confirm if that included the Ophir Car Park.

The future of the Woolworths Car Park is also up for review with council to fund the creation of a concept plan for the sale and development of the 13,000 square metre site.

Blowes Real Estate director Gary Blowes yesterday said he’d been approached by two groups interested in snapping up the Ophir Car Park.

“One is local, one is not,” Mr Blowes said.

“It’s a great site and probably should never have been a car park in the first place and up until now no one has been able to afford to develop it, but as the current zoning stands, it’s the only site in town big enough for a Target.”

Target, which already has stores in Bathurst and Dubbo, has previously said it wants to build a 5000 square metre store in Orange “as soon as possible”.

The Ophir Car Park opened in 1998 on the site of the former Ophir County Council headquarters.

Have your say - Is the Ophir Car Park the right location for a Target? Email bevan.shields@ruralpress.com with your verdict.