Having been a councillor on Bathurst Regional Council I cannot believe the anti-rhetoric from the passionate heritage people in relation to the proposed Bathurst Integrated Medical Centre (BIMC).

We are no longer a country town with a population of 10,000 people, we are a booming city of 45,000 people and growing fast.

We have a wonderful opportunity not to put us ahead but to try to catch up with our neighbouring towns - for example, Orange and its medical facilities.

OTHER RECENT LETTERS ON THE MEDICAL CENTRE:

Anyone not supporting this development has obviously never experienced attempting to obtain medical care in Bathurst and not had to travel to Orange or Sydney for health-related problems because of a lack of medical services available in Bathurst.

This development does not require government funding, something that our council can't seem to do anything without.

It is occupying an otherwise derelict location.

And the proposed design is wonderful.

Let's not implement road blocks for yet another private development and, instead, make it easy for this experienced, commercially sound company to improve the facilities available in Bathurst at no cost to the ratepayer.