PROPONENTS of a Bradfordville health hub are hoping changes to the development will have a smooth passage through Council.
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Cullingral Pty Ltd has lodged a modified DA, seeking to remove and relocate some aspects, introduce new ones and stage the Ross St development.
The family superannuation company is controlled by district property owner Wal Ashton and daughter, Sophie, a former Barclay’s banker.
The original application was approved last July amid objections from the local medical profession.
Council planners were also concerned about impact on the CBD.
The modified DA seeks to remove a childcare centre from the project, deferring it to stage three, relocate the day surgery, introduce more allied health, expand a pharmacy and cafeteria and increase parking. The project has an estimated $8.3 million value.
Miss Ashton said the changes had been “in the works” for six months.
“Having spoken to all potential leaseholders on their requirements and after doing our own research, visiting similar facilities in NSW, all that has informed what we’re looking for in a design,” she said.
“It is about best fulfilling the needs of Goulburn.”
The childcare centre would be built in a separate building to that originally proposed and deferred until stage three.
In its place more allied health, including a radiology clinic, day surgery, three dental clinics and a rehabilitation centre, complete with hydrotherapy pool, will be introduced.
Ms Ashton said deferral of the childcare centre was necessary to accommodate these features and avoid lodging a new DA.
In addition, the pharmacy and cafeteria would be increased from the planned 55 square metres to 102sqm and 75sqm respectively.
The pharmacist from Bradfordville Shopping Centre was relocating to the hub, the application stated. The business would be 85 per cent prescription based and 15pc retail. This contrasted with other pharmacies that were up to 50pc retail, documents stated.
Miss Ashton said there was clear demand for more dental and allied health services in Goulburn.
The company has been drumming up interest for several years.
“There’s a lot of enthusiasm, especially from the allied health community, including services in Bowral,” she said.
“There are businesses working in these centres with quite a lot of success. We also hope to work closely with Goulburn practitioners who are interested in having two bases.”
But winning over the local medical fraternity is proving a challenge.
Miss Ashton said while general community response had been “overwhelmingly positive,” doctors were still “very sceptical.”
She was confident this would change once they saw bricks and mortar and the project becoming a reality.
The Ashtons are not expecting the same level of objections on the DA, given this plan is based on changes to the original design.
The modified application will also allow staging, tailored to funding availability. The company is funding the first stage which comprises a building housing the medical centre, pharmacy, cafeteria, allied health facility, pathology, dental, psychology/speech pathology and some of the parking.
“We are looking to raise funds for stage two and we’re currently in discussion with groups and superannuation companies,” Miss Ashton said.
“There are quite a few avenues we’re looking to go down but it will be easier to sell once people see we’re putting money into the project.”
Stage two covers the day surgery, specialists’ centre, radiology and more parking.
Miss Ashton said pending Council approval, she hoped to start construction by about September and have the first phase operational in 15 months.
The modified DA can be viewed on Council’s website or at customer service. It is on exhibition until May 5 and public submissions are invited.