The AEH Group is seeking council permission to construct 16 buildings including a motel, restaurant, arts centre, medical centre, function venue, 159 housing units and a 79-bed residential care hostel.

It is expected about 445 people would live on the site, with up to an extra 100 motel guests.

AEH Group chairman John McCarthy told the Advertiser the $62million development would bring a vibrancy and focus point to the town.

``It will rid the town of the eyesore that is now there,'' he said. ``And we think a very attractive vibrancy would be brought back into the very heart of the town centre.''

Documents lodged with the development application say it will generate a net community benefit of $10.1million by 2016.

As part of the development, AEH Group would take a year to remediate the land so people can live on it.

The high school site has been vacant for six years. The land was found to be contaminated in 1996 because it once housed the council's gas works department.

An October 2005 study estimated it would cost $5million to remediate the site. Mr McCarthy did not know how much AEH would have to pay.

Camden Mayor Chris Patterson said the development had ``fantastic'' potential.

``Literally from an overgrown, rat-infested dump for the last few years it has the ability to to breathe life into that corner and, I believe, the Camden township,'' he said.

``We have to work very closely with the applicants to get the best outcome for the community.''

The proposal is on public exhibition until Tuesday, September 8. It can be viewed at the council's offices in Camden and Narellan.