The ACT Government is seeking up to 15,500 sq m of office space in the Woden town centre for more than 1000 Access Canberra employees and ACT Health Directorate staff.
The ACT public service staff will move next year as part of a plan to streamline government operations and improve health services. The mainly administrative Health staff will be closer to the hospital and on one site.
They are currently working across the city in offices at sites including Curtin, Civic and at the Canberra Hospital.
The government is pitching it as “an important step by the ACT Government to boost Woden’s economy by bringing new customers to its restaurants, cafes and other businesses and service providers” too, and clearly such an influx of workers will be a benefit to commercial operators in the area.
Chief Minister Andrew Barr said the Government recognised the impact of the relocation of a number of Federal government agencies from the town centre.
“Having heard first hand from retailers at the inaugural Pop-up Cabinet event in Woden … I know this move will be a welcome relief to many retailers and is a sign of confidence in the area,” he said.
Minister for Health Simon Corbell said ACT Health administrative staff who do not provide a direct clinical service are currently located in various parts of the city.
“This move is an exciting step for ACT Health to co-locate non-clinical administrative functions in one location, close to the Canberra Hospital campus,” he said.
“Co-locating a range of administration staff at present dispersed across Canberra will deliver operational and cost efficiencies and will ensure that space on the Canberra Hospital campus is freed up for clinical services . This will allow the campus to continue to focus on delivering high-level public health services to the community.”
The Woden facilities will provide an improved southside presence for Access Canberra, incorporating a new shopfront that will make it easier and simpler for Canberrans to connect with ACT Government services.
The ACT Government will issue a Registration of Interest for the required office space this week, closing time at 5pm on 2 December 2015.
Loading ...
