Golden Plains civic centre ready to grow

WORKS on the new $9.5 million headquarters for the Golden Plains Shire Council are due to begin next year.

After allocating $500,000 to finalise design works, the council is closing in on realising the project, which was first floated in 2014.

Details of the redeveloped facility in Bannockburn, which will be called a community and civic centre, will be finalised after a period of public consultation.

Listening posts and focus groups will be held over the next fortnight, while online feedback is also being received.

The project will see the council’s main customer service centre upgraded with safe and modern spaces, with the current site not meeting disability access standards.

There will be updated customer reception and service areas, and new council chambers that will provide better public viewing and the ability to access online streaming of meetings.

Consultants determined that a redevelopment of the existing 40-year-old building was $1.9 million cheaper than building a new facility. The building is about one-third of the floorspace in the new complex.

The council expects to allocate $9.5 million over the next two financial years.

A listening post will be held in Bannockburn tomorrow, with further opportunities to view the plans and talk with staff next week in Smythesdale and Bannockburn.