BATHURST RSL Club is asking its members to give their opinion on the medical centre and multi-storey car park proposed for the CBD.
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The club has written to members about the development and has outlined its position on the location, among other factors.
The $70 million proposal for the six-level Bathurst Integrated Medical Centre, on the former Clancy Motors site, comes with a plan for an adjoining five-level car park on the Bathurst Regional Council-owned land behind the Bathurst RSL Club.
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The BIMC group and Bathurst RSL say they will contribute $8.4 million to kick-start construction of the planned car park, which would be owned by council.
There are too many empty shops.
In a letter to members, club president Ian Miller says the CBD location - which is by far the most contentious aspect of the proposal - is the right choice.
"We believe that the Bathurst central business district needs a significant economic boost," he writes.
"There are currently too many empty shops, and the CBD is in decline.
"If the CBD is to thrive, there must be strong and consistent economic activity.
"The consolidation of a range of important medical services in one location, within the Bathurst CBD, would provide a strong economic stimulus to the precinct."
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Mr Miller says the club is currently "completely reliant on the council-owned car park for parking for our members and visitors".
A lack of parking for members had become an "increasingly pressing issue" before the COVID-19 outbreak and the club had also heard complaints from CBD workers about the lack of unrestricted parking, he writes.
"The club cannot continue to grow and prosper in our current location within the Bathurst CBD if access to parking becomes further restricted," Mr Miller writes.
"We are hoping to work co-operatively with council, and the proposed developers to build multi-storey parking within the existing car park area, to be provided free of charge."
Mr Miller writes that he understands there will be a broad range of opinions on the development and asks members to have their say through the BIMC feedback page.
