Car park plan for old BMX track to ease Dudley Hospital congestion

Mayor Cr Reg Kidd has proposed the newly levelled track area could become a parking site.

He said it would serve the expanding Dudley Private Hospital over the road and families and people attending sporting events and training nights at Anzac Park.

"Dudley has recently unveiled their new extensions. If you go up there during the day, virtually from down the bottom of that hill on both sides of the road there is traffic," he said.

"I think there were about 12 cars parked [on the grass].

"That happens every day.

"The area that is now a flat area, that used to be a bike track, would make a very good car park for both those visiting the hospital and going to Anzac Park.

"On Saturdays with the netball they get lots of cars over there.

"It would be a good overspill car park, at not a real lot of cost," he said.

"I think it is time we as a council have talks with Ramsay Health Care [who operate the hospital]."

Cr Kidd said the surface might not need to be sealed as a gravel-base would work.

Council's City of Orange Traffic committee has been asked to examine the proposal at its next meeting.

Last week Dudley Hospital unveiled the Central West's first private cardiac catheterisation laboratory and Intensive Care Unit.

The $4 million lab has been installed after requests from cardiologists in the region for such a facility.

The BMX track was flattened earlier this year after council had to obtain a development application for the work. The work was stalled when quotes for the demolition far-exceeded what council had budgeted.

Cr Russell Turner said the track was initially well-used but it fell out of favour.

"There was a fairly strong club there at one stage," he said.

"Then it got down to just one or two parents."

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