Another Bathurst councillor has thrown his support behind the idea to construct the Bathurst Integrated Medical Centre [BIMC] to a 'green star' standard in order to enhance the health and wellbeing of future patients and staff.
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Councillor Jess Jennings has put the call out to developers to "consider green walling" the BIMC into a "living building" to improve patient health.
This comes nearly 12 months after councillor John Fry similarly stated "a 'green star' building won't only benefit the environment, but patient wellbeing as well."
Cr Jennings says "a visually iconic BIMC that complements existing heritage assets, rather than arrogantly dwarfing and dominating them would be a vast improvement to the fig-leaf of landscaping proposed to date."
"Yes, a 'living building' would cost the private equity a bit more to build and maintain - but this town is our home, not a hospital ward for exporting profits out of Bathurst," he said.
"Apart from looking much better and creating a more natural atmosphere, living buildings can deliver medical benefits such as reduced patient stays for the mostly private patients who will use it."
"According to the World Building Council, hospital facilities designed with health and wellbeing in mind have been found to deliver an 8.5 per cent reduction in hospital stays, 15 per cent faster recovery rates, a 22 per cent reduction in the need for pain medication and an 11 per cent reduction in secondary infections."
Cr Jennings feels the 'living building' idea has the potential to answer a lot of heritage and location concerns held towards the project.
"If the BIMC is to proceed, they must consider ways to seriously reduce the visual impact, like making it a 'living building' by applying green wall technology," he said.
"Regardless of your position on it, the BIMC has potential to disrupt - some say destroy - the rich heritage profile and reputation of our great city."
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