The $16.5 million development will stretch across more than 17,000 square metres, including 9150 square metres of warehouse space, a bagged goods area, an outdoor nursery, timber trade sales, a bulk trade area, a building materials and landscape yard, a cafe and 330 parking spaces.

Councillor and Orange-based real estate agent Ash Brown said the building Bunnings would leave behind at the Orange Homemakers Centre on Bathurst Road would be difficult to fill, and the concern was a derelict building at the town’s gateway.

“It would be extremely difficult, I would imagine, as it’s a purpose-built hardware store,”  he said. “You’ve just got to find that tenant that would suit and a landlord who’s willing to compromise on the layout - it might suit someone like Freedom or Ikea.” 

Sustainable development committee chair and councillor Jeff Whitton said despite the concerns about the Bathurst Road site’s future, the investment was a positive.

“I think Orange will benefit from Bunnings moving to a larger site - they must feel Orange is worthy of the investment and it will certainly generate more jobs,”  he said.

Cr Whitton said the economic development community committee would look at the Bathurst Road site closely, encouraging existing Orange businesses to grow or attracting others to start.

Upgrades to Leeds Parade and the Northern Distributor Road worth $1.3 million have been budgeted for the coming financial year, which were required after the development application was submitted in 2013.

Bunnings property general manager Andrew Marks said the company was working proactively with Orange City Council to have the development approved.

“If approved, Bunnings intends to deliver a new, larger store,” he said.

danielle.cetinski@fairfaxmedia.com.au