The long neglected 38-hectare site was purchased by Andorra Developments for $3.5 million in October last year.

Two development applications have already been lodged with Dubbo City Council and additional approvals will be sought throughout the year as the company moves forward with a vision to create a new suburb integrating commercial, industrial and residential use.

Andorra Developments director Mark Stanford said early indications from council had been positive.

“We don’t think there will be any major blow-ups over what we are trying to do,’’ he said.

“A response to our initial development applications is expected in the next few weeks and as soon as council approval is received we will be lodging certificates to start work on the site.

“In the meantime, the master plan is proceeding well. A number of drafts have been created and the final plan is just a few weeks away.

“We expect to make the plan public in early March and it will then be submitted to council.’’

With at least six local government zonings covering the site, Mr Stanford is excited by the challenges of moving forward with the project.

“The marketplace will determine the best use,’’ he said.

“We have 40,000 square metres of shed space in existing hangars and each of the igloos is bigger than the whole of Apex Oval.

“The hangars were built for industrial use during the war so light industry is the most suitable adaptive reuse.’’

The hangars will be separated from residential areas by buffer zones.

Andorra Developments has approval for 250 residences but they will not be a priority, Mr Stanford said.

His company is already developing 600 residential lots at South Lakes and Olympus Estate (a subdivision proposed for land south of Boundary Road and east of Margaret Crescent).

“The old RAAF base is a very complicated project and getting it right will take time,’’ Mr Stanford said.

Mr Stanford regards the RAAF base as an integral part of Dubbo’s history.

“It has a great story to tell,’’ he said.

“We will be coming up with innovative ways to leverage that history.’’

Andorra Developments expects to invest more than $100 million on the RAAF site over the next 20 years.