MONEY from the sale of the old hospital site in Dalton Street has already been spent on the Orange Health Service Bloomfield campus, according to Health Infrastructure.
Earlier this week, deputy mayor Jeff Whitton said revenue from the sale should be used to create more car parking at the health service, but a department spokesperson confirmed the money had helped fund the new campus.
“Funds receipted from the sale of the land form part of the original funding source for the Orange Health Service project completed in 2011,” the Health Infrastructure spokesperson said.
With planning and heritage issues for the site resolved with Orange City Council, the spokesperson said Health Infrastructure could now move forward with certainty and plan the sale and development of the former hospital site and neighbouring hospital buildings.
“Health Infrastructure will be working with council to develop an appropriate development plan for the site prior to going to market,” the spokesperson said.
“Once the development plans are finalised, the site will be offered to the market via an expression of interest process.
“Health Infrastructure will update the community of any progress of future plans for the old hospital site.”
Cr Chris Gryllis last week suggested paid parking in front of the hospital could solve parking woes at the site.
Cr Whitton criticised the move suggesting more car parking at the site was the only answer.
But Cr Gryllis hit back saying Cr Whitton’s push for the state government to direct funds from the hospital sale to build car parks was “pie in the sky”.
“To deal with the state government to do that is out of the question,” he said.
“At least my idea is achievable.”
clare.colley@ruralpress.com