Banyule Council has started building new civic offices, which will bring a wide range of environmental and economic benefits, including $1m in annual ongoing savings in net operating costs.
The three-level offices, which also comprise a commercially-let floor to provide an ongoing income stream for Council, are being built on top of Banyule’s regional aquatic and leisure centre, WaterMarc
in Greensborough.
For the first time in 20 years, Council staff will work under the same roof, with 320 staff relocating from three offices across Banyule, eliminating travel times and boosting productivity.
Work started on the new offices in October 2015, with construction expected to finish by December 2016, ready for Council staff to move in January 2017.
The new offices, an investment of $30.88m, are part of Council’s longstanding vision, reinforced by Council’s 2003 Greensborough Structure Plan, to renew Greensborough by creating a vibrant regional centre for commercial, residential and entertainment activity.
The WaterMarc leisure centre, which was also built by ADCO Constructions, was specifically designed for civic offices to be built on top of it, so construction is causing little disruption to surrounding residents and businesses, with WaterMarc remaining open throughout.
The new offices have been designed to be highly environmentally sustainable, which will bring energy savings for Council, with features including solar panels, double glazing, LED lighting, motion sensors to control lighting and air conditioning, and recycled rain water for toilets. The building features terraces and a green façade.
The benefits of the new offices include: better use of resources with a larger one-stop customer service area with facilities for planning, building, engineering and health enquiries; an increase in community meeting rooms; reduced duplication and more effective systems of information technology, telecommunications and records management.
The building is also completely accessible, complying with the Disability Discrimination Act.
Importantly, Council is funding its new offices from existing reserves generated from the sale of Council owned properties in Greensborough and Rosanna, and is not raising additional rates or curtailing other infrastructure projects.
Customer service points will be kept in Ivanhoe and Rosanna, ensuring easy access for people across Banyule, and Council meetings will still be held in the heritage listed Council offices in Ivanhoe.
The project also brings economic benefits to Greensborough. Over the next 12 months there will be up to 250 construction workers on-site, and once finished Council staff, as well as staff from the commercially leased floor, and members of the community visiting the one-stop Customer Service Centre and community facilities, will bring new business to local traders.
