THOSE behind the six-storey medical centre proposed for the old Clancy Motors site in Howick Street have responded to the aspect of the project causing the most community debate: its location.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Concept plans, a range of artist impressions and an economic impact statement for the Bathurst Integrated Medical Centre (BIMC) were put on display through Bathurst Regional Council's Yoursay site about a week-and-a-half ago.
The BIMC group and Zauner Construction say they have welcomed the "considerable feedback" to date and say the large majority has been positive.
In terms of the location, BIMC and Zauner say the Clancy site, which has been acquired by the BIMC group, "was chosen after considering feedback from Bathurst community leaders and medical practitioners, and to avoid any negative economic impact on the CBD of relocating medical professionals out of the CBD".
"It was also chosen to provide ready access for visiting patients to parking, as well as to do their shopping or have a meal at surrounding businesses without needing to drive across town," they say.
"We expect that BIMC will show similar success as the six-storey integrated Gardens Medical Centre in Albury, which includes a private hospital on one floor, is located in the CBD, receives circa 14,000 patients a week and is over four kilometres from the Albury Base Hospital."
The Gardens Medical Centre, which is opposite Albury's botanic gardens, opened in 2009 and expanded into the suburb of Thurgoona two years ago.
RECENT LETTERS:
On criticism of the proposed centre's six storeys - which would exceed the allowable height in the Bathurst CBD - those behind the project say the Clancy Motors site "was chosen as the only site on the edge of the CBD that met the requirements for a fully integrated medical centre and private hospital".
"It is downhill and lower than the CBD area and not adjacent to any heritage building and is consistent with the proposed Council Town Centre Master Plan for the city and the site," BIMC and Zauner said.
"The vertical nature of the BIMC allows it to integrate all levels efficiently so that, for example, a patient can see a GP, be referred to a specialist, obtain allied health such as radiology, pharmacy or pathology and not need to leave the building or to drive to a separate location to do so."
On heritage concerns, BIMC and Zauner say the architects and design team "have carefully considered and respected" Bathurst's heritage and "independent heritage report recommendations have been taken into account in the planning".
They say building materials and colours have been selected to respect and respond to the heritage and "ground level shopfronts have been designed to tie in with surrounding streetfront styles".
They say the improvements resulting from the medical centre on the vacant Clancy Ford site will include mature tree plantings and green space areas.
The project will eventually be considered as a state significant development.
