The project so far : major milestones

23 August 2017

The process of Orange City Council taking on ownership of the site, exploring its future and arranging for the demolition to begin has taken a number of years.

This list includes a number of the key milestones.

By July 2017, when contracts were signed for the demolition, the decision had been taken that every building on the site, apart from the former ambulance station on the corner of Anson and Prince Streets, would be demolished. The contract was awarded to Albury-based firm, Zauner Constructions.

In June 2017, Orange City Council decided to explore a proposed re-zoning for the site. The re-zoning would let a large public administration building be constructed, such as a new home for the DPI head office in Orange.

In July 2016, the Development Application for the demolition of the former hospital buildings went on-show for community comment. At that stage of the project, the option of keeping the main hospital tower building was still on the table.

In May 2016 the purchase of the hospital site was finalised and the contract settled.

In April 2015 Orange City Council signed an agreement with Health Infrastructure to purchase of the old Orange Base Hospital. The sale price of the 2.1 hectare hospital site was $3.3 million. Council paid the NSW Government's Health Infrastructure department $1 million and $2.3 million would be be retained to cover the costs of demolition and remediation.