Kyneton residents are being urged to speak up before a major redevelopment is set in stone at the town’s old hospital site.
A plan to subdivide the land, develop the hospital building, carry out conservation works to registered historic buildings and construct roads, landscaping and dwellings is out for public comment on heritage issues until May 23.
Macedon Ranges Residents Association secretary Christine Pruneau said it was important that any development suited the site’s character and the needs of the community.
“It’s a really important site for Kyneton and the best outcomes are going to be produced if everybody has a look at the proposal and has their say on it,” Ms Pruneau said.
Last year, a group of 300 locals staged an event as part of the SaveOKH campaign with the aim of buying back the old Kyneton hospital from developers to save it from suburban housing.
A heritage impact statement, prepared for Winport Developments and included with a permit application to Heritage Victoria, said that the heritage registered portion of the site would include 11 new single-storey houses. The remainder of the site would include development of a number of single-storey dewellings and one two-storey house.
The central bluestone hospital building, built in 1854, would be transformed into four units and the former infectious diseases building would be refurbished as a house.
An environment, land, water and planning department spokesman said that once Heritage Victoria had reached a decision on a permit, the next steps in the planning process for the hospital would rest with Macedon Ranges council.
