Nillumbik Shire Council in outer Melbourne has embarked on a community consultation process to determine a long term solution to its Civic Centre requirements.
At an Ordinary Council Meeting in April, Council voted in support of an extensive consultation program, which has taken place over the last few months. During this time, all members of the community had a chance to contribute to this important decision.
Nillumbik Shire Mayor, Councillor Warwick Leeson, said the existing Civic Centre located in Greensborough is outdated and overcrowded. He said it is not near main population centres, is not easily accessible by public transport and has an energy efficiency rating of less than one star.
“Built in 1972, the age and size of the existing building and its equipment mean that Council needs to take some action,” Mayor Leeson said. “The decision facing us now is how to address this issue in a sustainable and responsible way.”
Mayor Leeson said the adequacy of Civic Centre facilities is fundamental to effective and efficient delivery of Council services to the community.
“Civic Centre facilities are also important for Council’s governance, ceremonial and community engagement activities,” he said. “The existing facilities are unable to effectively meet these requirements.”
As part of the consultation process, a discussion paper has been released, which details three options for Nillumbik’s future Civic Centre requirements. They are:
- Option A – remain centralised at Greensborough and expand the existing building
- Option B – remain at Greensborough, expand the existing building and decentralise some services in new buildings at other locations
- Option C – establish a new centralised facility on Council owned land in Eltham, a former Shire office site.
All options involve a major cost, which could potentially be funded through land sales at the existing site. These land sales would involve vacant land, and possibly, the existing Civic Centre building.
Council has developed a number of criteria, which are fundamental to any future Civic Centre decision, such as cost, the impact of growth, and the impact on customer service levels.
Council asked the community to provide input and comment regarding the relevance and priority of the criteria and had them evaluate each of the three options.
Mayor Leeson said a decision on the Civic Centre represents a major investment by Council and the community, and needs to be responsible in terms of financial management and asset stewardship.
“It also needs to be consistent with Council’s vision to lead the Green Wedge Shire in environmental best practice and foster a healthy, engaged and culturally vibrant community,” he said. “Such a decision needs to be considered in light of worldwide trends regarding climate change and environmental sustainability, and community expectations that governments will take a leading role in addressing these challenges.”
As well as the discussion paper, which is available on the Council website, the community consultation process also included two independently facilitated workshops, a specific workshop with residents who live close to the existing Civic Centre site, and consultation with Council’s recently established Nillumbik Talkback panel of residents.
“Council’s overall objective with this consultation process was to gain the broadest possible understanding of the community’s views in regard to this project, before deciding how to proceed,” Mayor Leeson said.
“The range of consultation methods we are proposing provides a variety of techniques to help achieve this outcome.”
The consultation process was open until the end of July and Council expects to consider responses in September.
