28th August 2008
Unlike many renovation and extension projects, the eagerly anticipated $27.4 million Wyndham Civic Centre and Community Facility will open its doors to the public – on time and within budget!
On Monday, 8th September the new state of the art customer service foyer at the Civic Centre will be operating - bidding farewell to the portable reception building.
From 8th September, the services currently provided at 7 Bridge Street, Werribee, will relocate to the new Civic Centre. These include:
- Kindergarten enquiries and enrolments;
- Maternal and Child Health administration;
- Community facilities management;
- Graffiti management;
- Community grants administration;
- Volunteer coordination; and
- Community safety.
Wyndham Mayor, Cr Kim McAliney said the redeveloped Civic Centre and Community Facility was built with the community’s needs and Wyndham’s growth in mind.
“The new Civic Centre creates office space to reintegrate staff currently based in portable buildings and outposted offices such as Bridge Street. This means that residents will be able to have most of their service delivery needs met in the one place, providing a ‘one-stop-shop’,” Cr McAliney said.
“The redevelopment also includes an impressive Community Facility which features three community meeting rooms and a large meeting room accommodating up to 350 patrons - which will also be used as the Council Chamber.”
Council will be giving tours of the new Civic Centre and Community Facility at a Community Open Day on Friday, October 10th 2008 between 10am and 12pm.
“I know many residents have driven past the Civic Centre and seen the construction and wondered what the finished result would be like. I encourage all residents to come along to the open day and see this new community facility,” Cr McAliney said.
Council’s CEO, Peter Marshall said the new centre will provide much needed space.
“Since the original Civic Centre opened in 1976, Wyndham’s population has grown significantly and with it the service delivery demands on Council,” Mr Marshall said.
“Wyndham outgrew its Civic Centre accommodation in the 1990’s when it was forced to relocate key services to Bridge St. Council has continued to defer the re-development of the Civic Centre by accommodating staff in portable accommodation since 1994.”
“The Centre is now capable of accommodating the current 312 staff as well as a further 416 staff members which are projected to be working for Council by 2025.”
Buildings and Waste Manager, Tony Grech, who oversaw the Civic Centre redevelopment said the project ran very smoothly.
“The redevelopment has taken us three years of planning and two years of construction and I am very pleased to have been able to complete it on time and within our budget,” Mr Grech said.