WorkSafe scales new heights

SCRAPING Geelong’s skyline at 65 metres, WorkSafe’s new headquarters has reached its final height — the same as London’s Tower Bridge.

The construction milestone was marked yesterday with a special “topping out” ceremony in which a tree was placed on the 14th floor, the highest level of the building.

WorkSafe chief executive Clare Amies and chairman Paul Barker attended the ceremony, along with representatives from Quintessential Equity and Built Contractors.

The $120 million project is on schedule for completion before the end of June next year.

It will be Geelong’s tallest building, surpassing the Rydges Hotel, which held the record since the 1970s.

All windows are expected to be fitted by the end of August and the site crane, which has been a landmark over central Geelong since construction began, is expected to be dismantled in September.

Fitout of the building is due to begin before the end of the year, adding an additional 50 workers to the current 200 on site. More than 50 per cent of the total construction workforce of 549 has come from the Geelong region.

Already 150 head office staff are working in interim office accommodation in Geelong, and Ms Amies said plans to relocate the remaining 550 staff to its new headquarters at the end of June 2018 were also on track.