City celebrates new HQ

GEELONG’S new $100-million civic headquarters is finished construction, with employees to begin working from the site later this month.

The City of Greater Geelong announced the completion of its Wurriki Nyal head office on Monday (August 15), which includes the city’s new customer service centre that will open to the public by September 5.

Wurriki Nyal translates to “speak and walk together” in Wadawurrung language.

The five-storey Mercer Street civic centre has open space for 900 city employees and 2500 square metres of public space.

It will bring COGG staff from nine separate locations currently into one building when staff complete the transition by early next month.

Geelong mayor Peter Murrihy said he expected the new centre to benefit the city and the wider community.

“Wurriki Nyal will allow the city to best serve the community for decades to come,” he said.

“The building is an exciting, long-term commitment to central Geelong, and shows our confidence in the continued growth of the CBD as a commercial and cultural precinct.

“Its sustainable features will deliver compounding savings on energy costs and rental costs year after year, while offering a central location for customer service and support.”