$10m shire plan

By Casey Neill
YARRA Ranges councillors say a $10.5 million shire office overhaul will boost staff morale and save money.
On Tuesday 23 March, the council approved a plan to refurbish and extend the current “rabbit warren” building and relocate Lilydale Library to Chapel Street.
The redevelopment includes a lift to address access issues, bring staff together in one location and improve water and energy use.
The project is expected to take about three years to complete.
Mayor Len Cox said the investment was modest and the upgrade would pay for itself through reduced rental and travel costs, wiping a $450,000 maintenance backlog and savings on energy consumption, which are expected to top $16,000 a year. He said the overhaul would also provide new meeting spaces for the community and better customer service.
CEO Glenn Patterson said an improved building would help the shire attract and retain a high quality workforce and increase productivity through more collaborative workspaces.
Chirnside Ward councillor Richard Higgins has recently seen Lilydale Police Station staff relocate from an “old and desecrated” building.
“I now see their new station, it’s a magnificent building up on the hill. It’s increased morale like you wouldn’t believe,” he said.“An organisation’s only judged by its assets, and the main asset as far as I’m concerned are the people who are working within it.”
He said council staff worked “extremely hard under extreme difficulties”. “I was actually appalled when I first walked in here 18 months ago and saw the conditions that some of them are working in,” he said.
Streeton Ward councillor Noel Cliff said he was against the overhaul when it was proposed years ago “because we had other priorities”.
“We’ve moved into those, we’re spending lots of money out there in the community, now this place has to be improved,” he said.
Former Upper Yarra Shire councillor and O’Shannassy Ward candidate Jim Child said the public was not made aware the item was coming before council.
Mr Child said there was probably a need for the improved accommodation. “I just hope the councillors were well informed on what they were voting for,” he said.
The Anderson Street office was built in the 1960s and has grown to include six portable buildings to try to accommodate staff, some of whom are also located in other offices. Councillors last year approved a $10.5 million budget allocation over three financial years. It could also be eligible for a $500,000 Living Libraries Fund grant and State Governemnt funding.