The Andrews Labor Government is getting on with the job by creating hundreds of public sector jobs at a new GovHub office to be built in Ballarat in a major boost to the local economy.
Premier Daniel Andrews today joined the Minister for Regional Development Jaala Pulford, Member for Buninyong Geoff Howard and Member for Wendouree Sharon Knight to announce further details about the proposed $47.8 million Ballarat GovHub office.
The Ballarat GovHub funded in the Victorian Budget 2017/18, will be home to up to 1000 government employees, including 600 new positions to the city, and will help revitalise a major part of the Ballarat CBD. This brand new office will include employees across:
- Department of Education and Training
- Department of Justice and Regulation
- Department of Economic Development, Jobs Transport & Resources (DEDJTR)
- Consumer Affairs Victoria
- Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP)
- State Revenue Office
- VicRoads
- Service Victoria
Development Victoria will lead the establishment of the new government office to be located at the redeveloped Civic Hall site. The site will be developed in partnership with the Ballarat City Council.
As part of the project, the Labor Government will work with the City Council to improve CBD car parking and offset the losses of parking at the Civic Hall site. This includes providing $2 million towards the City Council’s CBD Parking Action Plan. This will allow the Council to commence delivery of at least 1,000 nearby car parking spaces.
Construction of the Ballarat GovHub is expected to commence in 2018 and will be completed in 2020. The project will create up to 500 jobs during construction.
The Government will work with unions in the lead up to the job consolidations and has provided a commitment of no forced relocations and redundancies.
Quote attributable to Premier Daniel Andrews
“There has been much talk about government jobs for Ballarat, but unlike others we’re getting on with the job. This is about backing Ballarat and ensuring that as the city grows, we play our part in growing jobs for locals.”
Quote attributable to Minister for Regional Development Jaala Pulford
“We said we’d govern for the whole state and that means government offices shouldn’t just be confined to the Melbourne CBD. Ballarat’s new GovHub will create 600 local jobs to our city and revitalise the Civic Hall site.”
Quote attributable to Member for Buninyong Geoff Howard
“This is fantastic news for Ballarat. Not only will we see hundreds of extra jobs in our great city but the Civic Hall site will finally be rebuilt, repurposed and better than ever.”
Quote attributable to Member for Wendouree Sharon Knight
“Ballarat is really going places and this huge investment in jobs and the regeneration of the Civic Hall, will see our great city go from strength to strength. This is the Labor Government once again delivering for Ballarat.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020