Health & Innovation Precinct: What do you think?

The masterplan includes an economic assessment of the existing and future market conditions for private sector-based health services around the Orange Health Precinct at Bloomfield.

Key findings are:

• The broader region serviced by Orange contains around 368,800 people, including 158,650 persons in the primary catchment (including the city of Orange).
• This population of this region closest to Orange is projected to increase by 19,300 people by 2036, to reach 177,950 persons. The wider region is projected to increase to 389,200 by 2036.
• The catchment population has a younger age profile compared with ‘Rest of NSW’, with a higher than average proportion for residents aged 0 – 39 years of age, and a lower proportion age 60 years or older.
• This area has a shortage of medical / health related professionals relative to the needs of the population, with around 60 health/medical professionals per 1,000 residents, compared with 150 across the ‘Rest of NSW’ and 126 ‘nationally’.
• The provision of general practice medical services is below the ‘Rest of NSW’ average, as is the provision of pathology, dental and other allied health services. Overall, demand for GPs and Allied Health services is expected to increase by approximately 12% in the primary catchment by 2036.
• On top of the expected growth in the number of new hospital beds over the next five years (104 beds from the Orange private hospital), there will still be additional demand for 120 to 230 private hospital beds. It’s envisaged that some of the total hospital floor space should be dedicated to teaching, training and research, along with space for the clinical training and non-clinical training of medical professionals.

A concept map developed as part of the masterplan shows the existing key elements already in place in the health precinct, along with possible locations for new zones for development.

The current elements include:

• The general hospital and Bloomfield mental health hospital
• The new private hospital
• The agricultural research area
• The TAFE educational facility
• Sporting and open space recreation areas
• Aged care facilities

The proposed new zones include:

• An advanced medical and related manufacturing zone (incorporating the Leewood industrial estate)
• An integrated health research development zone (on the section of the former golf course alongside the main hospital)
• A new residential zone (on a section of the former golf course driving range alongside Huntley and Bloomfield roads)
• A student and health staff accommodation zone (on the section of the golf course, north of the residential zone)
• Additional aged care facilities
• An area for a new motel alongside the southern feeder road.

The masterplan finds that development of the precinct has potential to deliver a number of key opportunities.

It could capitalise on the significant opportunities to develop complementary health services and life sciences education and research around the existing Orange Health Service Public Hospital and Orange Agricultural Institute ( and GATE precinct).

It would do this by broadening the services available, enabling business synergies and improving community access to education and research services.

Key opportunities identified include:

• Health Care: With a growing and ageing population, there are opportunities across all health care sectors, including mental health services, to provide growth opportunities.
• Forest Road: The opportunity is to strengthen Forest Road as a ‘main street’ destination connecting the internal road system within the Bloomfield Hospital precinct with the centre of Orange and the southern suburbs. This would create commercial and public accommodation linking the educational and health precincts.
• Strengthen public transport: There is potential to improve public transport options from the railway station by a more frequent bus service to be used by students, seniors and access impaired users.
• Heritage: There is significant potential to capitalise on the area’s heritage buildings with heritage walks and possible re-purposing as commercial accommodation.

The new Health & Innovation Masterplan is part of an appeal by Orange City Council to have the precinct named as an Activation Zone by the state government.

Making the area an Activation Zone would ensure that potential investors would benefit from a coordinated approach to land use and infrastructure planning and have the best access to NSW Government incentives.

Special Activation Precincts (SAP) are being put forward by the NSW Government as part of the $4.2 billion Snowy Hydro Legacy Fund.

The Department of Planning, Industry and Environment has developed measures for a proposed state-wide framework of Activation Precincts to simplify and streamline planning processes in Special Activation Precincts.

Sites in Parkes and Wagga Wagga have been identified as SAPS.

The Wagga Wagga Special Activation Precinct focuses on the inland rail and advanced manufacturing, agribusiness, and freight and logistics.

Parkes focuses on the Inland Rail project and improved freight logistics.

Special Activation Precincts contain these core components:

• Government-led Studies: These studies are strategic environmental and planning technical reports to help identify the most suitable and compatible land uses and the infrastructure required, along with identifying site opportunities and constraints. Market analysis and economic forecasts will help identify industry specialisations.
• Fast track planning: A bespoke planning instrument will allow for simplified planning processes for development within the precincts. This will reduce timeframes for obtaining approvals and provide certainty and confidence to businesses and the community.
• Government-led development: The NSW Government may coordinate land activation where master planning and a business case justify Government investment. This will enhance development and investment in the Special Activation Precincts, as well as supporting industry specialisation required through land amalgamation.
• Infrastructure investment: Infrastructure investment may be required to assist in removing barriers to development or investment. Infrastructure may include traffic and transport infrastructure, essential services and utilities digital connectivity and - and other site-specific infrastructure. Business concierge: A business concierge service will actively manage precinct investor support. This support will include project management, industry investment, infrastructure delivery, environmental regulation, planning and certification.