GovHub gets green light for construction

BEHIND temporary walls on Lyttleton Terrace lies the site of one of the City’s most exciting projects.

Last Wednesday, construction of Bendigo’s GovHub officially began, a multi-use building connecting municipal and State Government staff.

Member for Bendigo East Jacinta Allan said the landmark project is on track for completion in late 2022.

“By the end of next year, the new GovHub building will bring together State Government and local government services providing better access for our community to be able to go and talk to their council, talk to State Government,” she said.

“This provides better services for our local community and importantly too at the same time is going to create a couple of hundred jobs during the construction phase and this is why this project’s important, it’s about continuing that pipeline of construction jobs in our local community.”

The construction is a joint venture between local building company Fairbrother and national construction provider Icon, working with Lyons Architects and Arup Engineering for the design.

Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation are also on board, ensuring Indigenous elements and language are included in the development.

Once completed, the building will accommodate up to 1000 jobs, 600 from the State Government and 400 from the City of Greater Bendigo.

Ms Allan said government agencies including Agriculture Victoria, Regional Development Victoria, DELWP, Aboriginal Victoria and more will be moving into the GovHub.

“This is co-locating a whole range of services, also too there’s new and additional jobs with agencies like the Long Service Leave Authority who have brought new jobs to Bendigo,” she said.

City mayor Cr Jennifer Alden said having a range of agencies at the GovHub will improve efficiency.

“It’s great for every organisation to have people in one location, that cross fertilisation between departments and different aspects of work is going to increase efficiencies and communication,” she said.

“Beyond that when we bring in other organisations that we work with, whether it be DELWP or another agency, they’ll just be downstairs or down the corridor and that’s another way of integrating and collaborating and will get better outcomes for the community.”

Cr Alden said staff will be “champing at the bit” to move out of their temporary offices at Fountain Court, where they have been since March last year after the former main office was demolished.

“Who knows with the restrictions by the end of next year I think we’ll be keeping our fingers crossed that we’ve got the clear go ahead for everybody to locate immediately,” she said.