When expressions of interest are considered the city could be presented with a range of development options from multi-storey retail to a mix of retail and accommodation, but regardless of which proposal wins the day the 200 plus parking spaces on the site need to be preserved.

And preserving the stock of parking spaces does not mean notionally moving them somewhere else in the central business district in exchange for a developer parking contribution.

This has been an option exercised by council for small developments in the past but with a car park of this size spaces in this part of the city are critical.

Council has tinkered with the daily parking fee in recent years and while motorists have demonstrated they are price sensitive the site has generally been full most of the time.

Councillors should also remember that moving NSW government services, including the RMS, to the office block opposite has been successful partly because of the parking available at the Ophir site.

The other factor which has been flagged as a priority is jobs. According to one councillor at least, as the owner of the site the city has a unique opportunity to chose a development which will create permanent jobs. 

A substantial retail development would fit the bill here and be consistent with the city’s economic profile. Orange has above average incomes for a regional centre, below average unemployment and strong retail spending per capita.

There is also consumer demand for a Target outlet or similar variety store to augment the existing retail mix.

If the nature of the expressions of interest meet council’s expectations there is indeed a rare opportunity to choose a development which will be of strategic benefit to the local economy.