The proponents of the medical centre intend to lodge a planning proposal to amend the height of buildings and floor space provisions in the Bathurst Regional Local Environment Plan (LEP) in relation to the proposed site.

Bathurst's LEP currently allows for a maximum building height of 12 metres, but the medical centre is proposed to be 29 metres, while the associated car park in George Street would be 21 metres high.

The floor space ratio standard in the LEP is 2:1, which the car park would comply with, however the proposed floor space ratio of the building is 2.6:1.

READ ALSO: Bathurst Integrated Medical Centre team unveils concept plans for $70m CBD hospital

At the October ordinary meeting, council resolved to support the commencement of the planning proposal, under delegated authority to council's director of Environmental, Planning and Building Services, in accordance with the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment guidelines to amend the LEP.

Council would forward the planning proposal to the DPIE to request a gateway determination.

Councillors were vocal last week in their support for the BIMC, making it clear that they wanted to make it as easy as possible for the development to go ahead.

Cr John Fry said the proposed medical centre appeared to be a matter councillors were united on.

"I think we're on the same page with this," Cr Fry said.

"There is probably unanimous agreement, for once, on an issue. This has a social licence to go ahead. It's about the function of the building, so it's justified in terms of the function, the well identified-need.

"... Supporting the height variation ... it's a one off, it doesn't mean we're going to get any more 29-metre high buildings, but I think it's worthy of a variation."

READ ALSO: Medical facility an opportunity to develop a 'green star' complex: Fry

Councillors Warren Aubin, Bobby Bourke and Alex Christian also put their support behind the project.

"I know this isn't a recommendation to build the building, but anything that this council can do to assist these developers to get this ultra-important development happening in Bathurst we have to do. This development has to go ahead as planned," Cr Aubin said.

Council anticipates the planning proposal process will take up to 12 months once it has been lodged.

This information prompted Cr Bourke to call for more action to expedite the process.

"Whatever we can do to shorten that red tape, we need to do it," he said.

"We've had feedback from the community. Look, most of the community is right behind this medical centre, and we need to as a council be right behind it and try to hurry up the process as quick as we can."

BIMC is proposed to come at a cost of $70 million.

Due to the high cost of the development, it has been deemed a state significant development, meaning council won't be the one to approve, or knock back, the medical centre plans.

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can access our trusted content: