An artist’s impression of the one-storey medical centre for Corowa.
Corowa’s new, one-storey medical centre which will provide additional employment for 14 full-time staff is hoped to become operational early in 2023.
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A development application for the approximate $3.6 million facility in Guy Street Corowa was unanimously approved at Federation Council’s latest monthly meeting on April 19.
The proposed development will provide for additional medical and allied health services to the Corowa community and surrounding area.
The single storey facility was revised from the originally approved two-storey medical centre which proposed 30 onsite car parking spaces.
“It will be a fully-fledged clinic,” Practice Principal Corowa Medical Centre Dr Ayon Guha told The Free Press.
Practice Principal, Corowa Medical Centre Dr Ayon Guha expects the new medical centre to start construction in July..
“Included will be three consulting rooms, processing room, imaging room and staff room.”
Applicant Healthcare Projects Australia was also successful in having its development application for the prescribed parking requirements reduced to 29 for the new centre.
Council’s resolution was welcomed by Dr Ayon. “It’s perfect,” he said, “and I thank council for its speedy response to our second application.
“We will go to tender in the next couple of weeks, back to council for the building permit and after that, two to three months to have the contract in place.
“Hopefully we can start building in July. The project will take probably around six months as most of it will be pre-fab. We’re hoping for early next year to be operational.”
If feasible down the track to do so, Dr Ayon said it would be possible for the facility to become a two-storey centre.
In her report to council’s April meeting, Federation Council’s director development and environmental services Susan Appleyard said the development of the medical centre will provide for much needed service to the town and will provide improved health and social services to Corowa and surrounding areas for the foreseeable future.
“The request to vary the onsite parking requirements from 30 down to 29 is supported given the
community benefit the development will provide to Corowa and surrounding areas.”
She said the operation of the facility will have impact on the amenity of the adjoining residential areas during operating hours and that the developer has made every endeavour to limit this impact.
The 35 conditions attached to council’s approval include reference to public health in that a trade waste approval will be required for one or more of the facets of the development.
The developer levy payable will be calculated at 1% of the capital value of the construction works for the overall development. Contributions will be used to upgrade and improve services to counter balance the increasing pressure of the development on the services and infrastructure that council provides.
Mayor Pat Bourke said it is “absolutely amazing” the new medical centre will proceed. “It’s one of the most important and essential facilities for any community and in this case “will be great for the region”.
“Having this additional medical facility is because of a community’s growth and ensures a community will continue to grow,” the mayor said.
“It’s wonderful what Dr Ayon has done and we wish he and his team all the best with the new centre.”
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