Chairman of the Jemalong Aged Peoples Association (JAPA) Graeme Miller said the response to advertising for EOIs which commenced in November, had been surprising.

“We received six from the 30 packages sent out,” Mr Miller said, adding advertisements had been placed in the Sydney Morning Herald, Canberra Times, Western Magazine, Southern Weekly and the Forbes Advocate.

Mr Miller said the board will be meeting this Friday evening to review the EOIs and determine if they were in line with their vision for the site.

“The board’s vision is to retain the sight and to be used to the benefit of the Forbes community,” Mr Miller said, citing student accommodation as one of the possible uses.

“It lends itself within the medical precinct,” Mr Miller said.

“Its community owned so whatever we do is for the benefit of the community.”

The site, which includes land and buildings, is owned by the JAPA and will remain a community asset at this stage.

“Before we finalise any decision, Council will be made aware of it,” Mr Miller said.

According to the advertisement placed in the Forbes Advocate on November 14, the site's location in the medical precinct makes it “an ideal position for other potential health related development purposes.”

However, the board will also consider other applications which may include “the development of a Medical Student training facility, step down care, visiting specialists and procedural consulting rooms.”

Living quarters for University students and visiting specialists, Dementia Day Care, young disabled accommodation or TAFE training for Enrolled Nurses would also be considered.

So far, Mr Miller said it seemed most of the EOIs have been received from consultants, however he was unable to name the projects on offer.

Mr Miller described determining the future of what will be the former JRV site as a long process.

“The Expressions of Interest is [just] the start of the process,” Mr Miller said, “we’ve got a lot to go through.”