Move looms as council officers have nothing to go on …

By Melissa Grant
CARDINIA Shire Council employees are on the move as sewerage and power capacity on the council’s hilltop offices reaches breaking point.
Civic leaders voted in favour of abandoning the council’s Henty Way headquarters, as it emerged that employees were crammed into a sub-standard building plagued with electricity and sewerage problems.
The council is looking to be renting out a new civic centre by 2012 – a move expected to cost at least $2 million.
Councillors ruled out the refurbishment and construction of a new office, which each have a price-tag of about $25 million.
They will instead examine long-term lease options with a view to be working out of a new facility by 2011-’12.
Cardinia mayor Bill Pearson said it was imperative that council had better facilities for its staff.
“We have managers working on desks – they don’t even have their own offices,” he said.
The council has 202 employees, with 100 working in the main office and another 81 housed in portables on the Henty Way site.
The total number of council workers is expected to reach 282 by 2022 – and there are real fears the building won’t be able to cope with increased power and sewerage demand.
Cr Pearson told the Gazette the existing council building was already lacking in lavatories.
“We have a problem with sewerage. We don’t have enough toilets – we don’t even meet the shire’s own standards. Sometimes we have issues because of it.”
Central Ward councillor Collin Ross said it would cost about $1 million for additional sewerage connections because of the council’s hilltop location. He said the only option was to look at a long-term lease.
“The only way to go is to see what’s out there and if there could be a leasing deal with proper accommodation,” he said.
The council has carried forward $500,000 from the last financial year to undertake a detailed assessment of future civic centre office requirements.
A further $1- $1.5 million will be needed as part of a five-year capital works program to fit out the new facility.
The council is keen to increase office space by about 3800 square metres to accommodate its growing number of employees.
Councillors are inviting expressions of interests and are seeking a site in the Urban Growth Corridor, which is accessible to residents and close to existing services and infrastructure.
Under the plan, the council will lease office space for at least 15 years and an option to renew to 25 years with first right of refusal to purchase.