Thirteen years after the idea was first floated, construction is in sight for a proposed private hospital.
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A modified development application has been lodged with NSW Department of Planning, changing the size and location of some of the buildings and boosting the number of parking spaces.
The development will involve a GP super clinic, six-storey private hospital, a retail and allied health precinct, an 82-room motel with conference facilities and a 90-seat restaurant, inspired by the Gardens Medical Group in Albury.
The motel will include 12 medi rooms, which will cater for recovering patients instead of the hospital.
Further development is planned for the rear of the site at a later stage, which could include assisted living, childcare and residential apartments.
The 835 parking spaces have been designed to meet the private hospital site’s needs and will also offset parking issues at the public hospital.
James Richmark director Frank O'Halloran said while it had taken some time to arrive at a plan meeting Orange’s needs, the result was a one-stop shop.
“We believe around 500 jobs will be required to run the site,” he said.
He said he was talking to a couple who had travelled 50 kilometres to see family in hospital and believed the motel component would become crucial.
“We said, have a look at this and they said, we know where we’re going to stay because you’ve got everything – you’ve got shops to buy some groceries, shops to get your hair done and buy some flowers and go to the chemist,” he said.
The first stage will include the hospital, allied health and motel components, taking $50 million and two years to build.
An operator for the hospital and retail tenants are yet to be chosen.
Orange mayor John Davis supported the development, saying the area would become the leading medical precinct in regional NSW “by far” and work would continue on upgrades to intersections in Forest Road.
Zauner built the Orange Regional Museum.