A cure has finally been found for Orange's old hospital site.
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The run-down facility will finally have a new lease of life after NSW Health Infrastructure (HI) finalised a deal with Orange City Council that's designed to revitalise the area.
Council staff in consultation with HI have already been working on a plan to develop the site, which will incorporate residential, commercial and recreational areas.
The preferred option for the project includes 2,000m2 of park area and 700m2 of verge widening, 68 dwellings made up of 28 apartments in the redeveloped ward block and 40 houses with a mix of terrace housing, townhouses and duplex housing and 10 mixed- use properties.
It will also include a refurbished ambulance building to be used for commercial development.
Council has warned the project will take several years to complete.
A development application will be lodged in June, with demolition due to be completed in December.
Construction work is anticipated to kick off on January, 2107.
Member for Orange Andrew Gee said there had been a great deal of community interest in the old hospital site.
"People are very keen to see some action on the site and to get this important part of Orange rejuvenated," he said.
"There is obviously going to be significant demolition costs and I'm very pleased that the NSW Government has adopted a practical approach in agreeing to place $2.3 million of the purchase price in trust to fund the demolition."
Orange mayor John Davis said the finalisation of the contract was an important milestone for the project.
"Projects like these are rare in regional cities and HI and council have been working together to get it right," he said.
"There is a lot of work to do but once complete this will set Orange apart from other regional cities across Australia.
"It is an entire city block close to the CBD with great opportunities to create new types of residential living and commercial offerings.
"In the coming years this will be a significant driver of economic growth in the city creating up to 40 construction jobs a year across five years."
The hospital site cost $3.3 million with council paying HI $1 million.
HI commissioned council to carry out demolition works and remediation of the site which is expected to cost around $2.3 million.
Bryson.ferreira@fairfaxmedia.com.au
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