After months of negotiations, several designs and collapsed agreements the Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council has settled on a location for its new headquarters.
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The building will be located at 257 Crawford Street, next to the current heritage council chambers, once the now vacated council building is demolished.
The motion passed unanimously showing a level of agreement that had eluded the project through most of its existence.
The building will consist of five levels with more than 7000 square metres of office, meeting and public space. About 1000 square metres will be lettable office space and may eventually accommodate NSW government staff.
The building will include an integrated foyer with the Q and Bicentennial Hall.
257 Crawford Street was chosen after plans had been made for an office at either 50 Lowe Street or on Rutledge Street which would have included retail space as part of the development proposed by Downtown Q.
Mayor Tim Overall originally put forward the motion to consider 257 Crawford Street in May’s council meeting.
He said it was vital council staff were housed centrally in a built-for-purpose building and that old council buildings could be redeveloped to invigorate the CBD.
Councillor Peter Bray, who moved for council to choose 257 Crawford Street at Wednesday’s meeting, said it would allow future growth and meant the Rutledge Street development could still go ahead.
The chosen site means car parking spaces will not be lost from the Lowe Carpark.
Councillor Peter Marshall expressed concerns about the fifth floor and the inclusion of extra space for lease.
“Council may end up having to pay for an extra level we don’t need,” Cr Marshall said.
“We don’t know if the NSW government agency will ever happen.”
While this aspect was not changed, Cr Marshall was successful in having a point added which would see the public exhibition of the carparking strategy expedited.
The strategy is part of the council building process as it necessitates the construction of the Morisset multilevel carpark. Demolition of the current building is expected to occur by December with designs and development applications fulfilled in the next 12 months and construction complete in 2020.
