Media Release - 30 August 2021

Bathurst Integrated Medical Centre Feedback

The BIMC and Zauner Construction team welcome the considerable feedback from the community to date on the privately funded proposed Bathurst Integrated Medical Centre (BIMC) on the vacant Clancy Ford site in Howick Street. It is pleasing that the large majority of feedback has been positive toward Bathurst’s state of the art new medical facility.

We are pleased to respond to questions and comments raised via YourSay Bathurst and on social media. Most have a common theme so are collectively answered here.

Location - the Clancy site has been acquired by BIMC. It was chosen after considering feedback from Bathurst community leaders and medical practitioners, and to avoid any negative economic impact on the CBD of relocating medical professionals out of the CBD. It was also chosen to provide ready access for visiting patients to parking, as well as to do their shopping or have a meal at surrounding businesses without needing to drive across town. The independent economic impact report on the positive impacts on the CBD is available on YourSay.

Private Hospital - the new private hospital in BIMC will be located on the top 2 levels and will have 4 theatres compared with 2 in the existing Bathurst Private Hospital. The lease on the existing private hospital is limited, making the BIMC an urgent medical priority. The relocation and expansion of the private hospital will also assist to alleviate the pressure on the public hospital. The private hospital will be staffed from existing and new employees.

Other BIMC Facilities - the other 4 floors in BIMC include radiology, pathology, women’s health, general practitioners, specialists, medical training, pharmacy and other allied health facilities which together with the Private Hospital create a “one stop medical shop”. These other facilities will be independently run and will be open to all members of the community who require health advice or treatment.

Car Parking - the Development Application for the new Council owned multi story car park will seek approval for ~915 cars including many disability spaces, compared to the current 330 spaces. BIMC will only have 60 reserved car parks for its doctors and tenants. The balance of ~855 spaces will all be available for the public including free parking for BIMC and RSL staff, patients and patrons. It is understood that free parking for businesses and the community will be maintained, however decisions about this as well as parking time limits at the site will be made by the Council.

Parking for BIMC patients – The design team have considered how patients can safely move between the parking areas and the BIMC. As well as having pedestrian crossings and good lighting through the ground level areas, the car park design includes a link bridge connecting to level 1 of BIMC. This means patients can park and walk directly into the building without having to cross the road. Disabled access parking will also be provided adjacent the link bridge for direct access. Lifts will also be provided in the car park in multiple locations so visitors can have ease of access, such as to the RSL.

Traffic - BIMC and Zauner commissioned an independent report and its recommendations have all been taken into account in the designs including modelling turning paths for ambulances and delivery vehicles. In addition, Bathurst Regional Council have been consulted on traffic movements and future projections and will be involved in the proposed traffic plans in order to achieve the maximum benefit of centrally located public car parking.

Heritage - the architects and design team have carefully considered and respected Bathurst’s proud heritage. In addition, independent heritage report recommendations have been taken to account in the planning. Building materials and colours have been carefully selected to respect and respond to the heritage and ground level shopfronts have been designed to tie in with surrounding streetfront styles. The improvements resulting from the BIMC on the vacant Clancy Ford site will include mature tree plantings and green space areas, access paths and seating areas. Pedestrian amenity and other facilities like the cafe outdoor dining will greatly compliment and renew the Howick St precinct.

Height - the Clancy Ford site was chosen as the only site on the edge of the CBD that met the requirements for a fully integrated medical centre and private hospital. It is downhill and lower than the CBD area and not adjacent to any heritage building and is consistent with the proposed Council Town Centre Master Plan for the City and the site. The vertical nature of the BIMC allows it to integrate all levels efficiently so that for example a a patient can see a GP, be referred to a specialist, obtain allied health such as radiology, pharmacy or pathology and not need to leave the building or to drive to a separate location to do so.

Funding – The BIMC project, including fit out, is privately funded and does not rely on taxpayers, ratepayers or council funding. As well as this, the BIMC team and Bathurst RSL strongly believe in the shared benefits of this project to the community and surrounding businesses and are injecting further private funding of up to $8.4m into the car park building, which will be wholly owned by the Council and available to the public.

BIMC and Zauner Construction are committed to working with all Bathurst stakeholders to ensure that Bathurst has the best possible medical infrastructure to secure its future and be able to retain essential medical practitioners locally.

We continue to welcome further feedback via the YourSay Bathurst site.