Big push for new council building

GEELONG’S administrators have strongly backed a plan to build a new council headquarters in the CBD.

The City of Greater Geelong has called for further analysis and design work to be done on the proposed highrise building at 137 Mercer St, which is opposite the city’s police station.

While the build has been estimated at $100 million, the council is confident that by consolidating its staff from nine separate locations it would end up saving money in the long term.

A detailed report on the potential funding of the project will be completed by next March, with the incoming councillors to consider supporting it in the 2018-19 budget.

Chief administrator Kathy Alexander has left the city’s next representatives in no doubt about her views.

“It’s the logical choice and a decision that makes great business sense,” she said. “Further delays are wasting ratepayers’ money and missing opportunities to contribute to the revitalisation of central Geelong.”

The council bought the proposed Mercer St site a decade ago with a view to building a new headquarters on the existing carpark.

In backing the project, Dr Alexander cited figures that showed the status quo would cost the council $72 million over the next 20 years.

She said the cost of building a highrise base could be as low as $56 million, when productivity improvements, the sale of existing assets and rental income are taken into account.

The council first considered moving its operations into a central location about 20 years ago, but the issue gained momentum when a Commission of Inquiry last year called for the initiative.

Council candidate George Ballas has already flagged calling for an alternative investigation if he is elected next month.

He wants the council to do a feasibility study on the potential for it to take over Target’s national headquarters, when the retailer leaves the city late next year.