THE Bendigo GovHub, known as Galkangu, has reached new heights, with work on its top storey completed last week.<\/p>\n
At a special topping out ceremony last week, State minister for regional development Mary-Anne Thomas visited the site to mark the occasion.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is going to be an extraordinary building and an extraordinary addition to Bendigo,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have GovHubs in Ballarat and Morwell and in each of these regional cities, they\u2019re performing an incredible role, bringing job opportunities to regional Victoria.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Bendigo GovHub is a $90 million project aiming to centralise and relocate services, with 1000 State Government and City of Greater Bendigo jobs to operate out of the building.<\/p>\n
Ms Thomas said the building is being constructed using sustainable timber sourced from Gippsland and Albury-Wodonga.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s about taking what\u2019s a scarce natural resource and making sure we get the best value from it by utilising it in different ways,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Member for Bendigo West, Maree Edwards, said Galkangu, along with the Bendigo Law Courts and Bendigo TAFE building, are \u201ctransforming the CBD of Bendigo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe architecture of the new buildings fits so beautifully with our historic architecture in Bendigo, you really don\u2019t feel like they\u2019re standing out like a sore thumb,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation collaborated with Development Victoria to include First Nations design elements and language within the building.<\/p>\n
General Manager of Djaara, Cassandra Lewis, said tenants will be able to see wedged-tail eagle Bunjil, the creator spirit, on the facade of the law courts as well as a sculpture at the GovHub entrance representing the council of elders.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen we make things happen together, when we build together, when we connect to country, we create Galkangu,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis place will transform into the fantastic Galknagu building, a name that has a meaning but also generates the action of bringing people together surrounded by language, presence and culture.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt’s really significant for the Dja Dja Wurrung to build visibility across country, with culture applied in a contemporary context, it creates a lot of pride for our people.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt places language, culture and history that will invite conversations and an awareness of deeper reconciliation for generations to come.\u201d<\/p>\n
The building is expected to be open for staff by early 2023.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
THE Bendigo GovHub, known as Galkangu, has reached new heights, with work on its top storey completed last week. At a special topping out ceremony last week, State minister for regional development Mary-Anne Thomas visited the site to mark the occasion. \u201cThis is going to be an extraordinary building and an extraordinary addition to Bendigo,\u201d […]<\/p>\n