Orange City Council has released an 'Expression of Interest' to double the amount of parking at the Ophir Car Park on the corner of Lords Place and Kite Street that could also include a new commercial or residential development.
Orange Deputy Mayor Gerald Power says increasing parking next to the CBD is a key element of releasing the FutureCity upgrade plans.
"FutureCity is all about making the heart of our city more pedestrian-friendly and to facilitate this we need to find more parking within a short walking distance to town.
MULTI-LEVEL: The Ophir Car Park could become the site of a new multi-level car park.
"The Ophir Car Park is virtually a clean slate for a developer and has the zoning and height limits to make it an attractive proposition," Cr Gerald Power said.
Following Council's decision to undertake an expression of interest process for the Ophir Car Park, Council has engaged a specialist commercial property consultant to manage the process.
Possible developments for the site that would need Council planning approval, could include commercial premises, retail or office space, a mixed-use centre with entertainment facility, or serviced apartment accommodation.
Currently there are 215 parking spaces on the Ophir site. Proposals from developers should provide enough parking to cater for the new commercial or residential developments, as well as doubling the amount of existing parking available to the public (from 215 to 430).
The EOI also asks developers to outline how they would manage the loss of parking during the construction period.
While the formal EOI process will begin early in February 2023, businesses can register their interest beforehand by visiting Orange City Council's website .
