9 January 2012

Shared Services fingered as the Gungahlin penal battalion

| johnboy
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Chief Minister Gallagher has the exciting news that Woden’s Callum Offices Shared Services staff have been chosen to be the long promised Gungahlin penal battalion of the ACT Public Service:

“In May last year, the Government announced we would move 500 staff to Gungahlin,” Ms Gallagher said.

“Today we have announced those staff will be from Shared Services in the Treasury Directorate – moving many of them from the aged accommodation at Callam Offices in Woden.

“The Government has received nine registrations of interest from the development sector to build offices – both on our land and developer’s own land – and we are aiming to start building this year or early next.

“This is great news for businesses and residents of Gungahlin – not only are we bringing 500 jobs to the town centre, but this will in turn create jobs as businesses grow and open in Gungahlin.”

Ms Gallagher and Mr Barr said this project is another example of the ACT Labor Government’s commitment to the people of Gungahlin.

“This employment hub is another major piece of infrastructure for the people of Gungahlin, delivered by this Labor Government,” Ms Gallagher said.

Katy’s been out getting her Kim Jong-Il on and looking at the potential sites. They’re hoping to do some actual building this year, or maybe not.

One hopes the burghers of Gungahlin are suitable grateful.

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Gungahlin Al4:08 pm 11 Jan 12

HenryBG said :

ThrowawayAccount said :

In order to make this work, they are definately going to need to invest in a proper (direct) bus service to Gungahlin from other town centres – which I don’t think currently exists.

Yes. If I’m working in Woden, I’m looking at a 15minute ride on the bus to get there. To get to Gungahlin, I guess I’d be looking at an additional 15 minute ride to get to Civic, and then who-knows-how many hours to get to Gungahlin. I’m pretty sure there would be zero chance of me following shared services out there – life’s too short.

Yep I’m thinking that – in lieu of light rail links, which would be fast enough to not matter – a direct peak time Gungahlin – Woden bus service would be the primary service improvement that we should be pushing for as part of this.

ThrowawayAccount said :

In order to make this work, they are definately going to need to invest in a proper (direct) bus service to Gungahlin from other town centres – which I don’t think currently exists.

Yes. If I’m working in Woden, I’m looking at a 15minute ride on the bus to get there. To get to Gungahlin, I guess I’d be looking at an additional 15 minute ride to get to Civic, and then who-knows-how many hours to get to Gungahlin. I’m pretty sure there would be zero chance of me following shared services out there – life’s too short.

ThrowawayAccount8:04 pm 10 Jan 12

I wonder if the powers that be have taken into account the great big data centre sitting in Callam (Note the spelling Rioters….), and the cost of moving it? And never mind the big money that was just spent putting in a fire suppression system…ahh well, I guess it’s only money, and it’s not like the ACT Government is struggling to balance the books – oh wait….

In order to make this work, they are definately going to need to invest in a proper (direct) bus service to Gungahlin from other town centres – which I don’t think currently exists.

Bluey said :

There is no pay parking Gungahlin.

Yet.

Gungahlin Al said :

But you should drop back some time – there is far more in the way of dining than burgers. There may not be any Corgettes or similar, but who really enjoys paying $20 for an entree the size of a kiwi fruit?

Courgette. And it’s not necessarily the size that counts, GA!

thatsnotme said :

Bluey said :

futto said :

Well that sucks for me….Changing a 10 km round trip on my pushbike to a 60 km one.

Where the heck do you live? Its <20km from Woden to Gungahlin.

Unless you live in Bredbo I dont see how it can increase 50km?

I used to go the opposite, (Gunners to Woden) Takes 25 mins in the car in the morning. Suck it up.

Round trip, not one way, so the trip has increased 25km one way, not 50km.

I see, at least you have 2 years at least to figure out how to deal with it.

I-filed said :

Oh god does this mean TWO-way Gungahlin traffic through the inner north?
Don’t you love Katie’s fake rhetoric about public transport. Like anyone is going to catch a bus to work in Gungahlin. Like there won’t be a “nod and wink” huge unofficial carpark allowed somewhere, like the one created on what used to be a beautiful picnic lawn at the National Library that is now an acre of cars every day.
Calling the ACT Government on its car hypocrisy: cheap rhetoric on public transport; then actively encouraging car culture through Summernats; and requiring two-bedroom dwellings to have TWO car spaces in complete contravention of sustainability and actually encouraging households to make do with one car.

There is no pay parking Gungahlin. Compared to $7+ a day in Woden, theres your fuel difference covered. I used to bus Gungahlin to Woden. 1 hour 20 mins. Then I bought a motorbike and it took 25 minutes.

At the end of the day though its only 4-500 people and its Shared Services ICT based in that building not the paper shuffling HR area which is in Eclipse House in Civic.

Callam offices is the WORST building Ive ever had the displeasure to work in. Estimates were around $50million to revamp it to standards others have in Civic and Belconnen. I cant imagine who will possibly buy the building as Im pretty sure its on some sory of protected building list due it unusual construction.

Ah yes see here: http://www.environment.act.gov.au/heritage/heritage_register/register_by_suburb?sq_content_src=%2BdXJsPWh0dHAlM0ElMkYlMkZ3d3cuY21kLmFjdC5nb3YuYXUlMkZfX2RhdGElMkZhc3NldHMlMkZwZGZfZmlsZSUyRjAwMDMlMkYxNDg0NTglMkYxMjQyLnBkZiZhbGw9MQ%3D%3D

So potentially it cant be knocked down for units. Who would buy it then?

Gungahlin Al9:22 am 10 Jan 12

poetix said :

Bluey said :

poetix said :

Burghers of Gungahlin: the area’s top restaurant.

That doesnt make sense.

Sesame seed pun (and a very stale one too) based on a phrase in the story. I was commenting on my perceptions of the amenities of Gungahlin, while trying not to be boring like this.

I love explaining jokes.

And explaining a pun with more puns! 🙂
But you should drop back some time – there is far more in the way of dining than burgers. There may not be any Corgettes or similar, but who really enjoys paying $20 for an entree the size of a kiwi fruit?

Yeah, it’ll add a good 20-30 minutes to my trip to work. Considering they have 10 of us sittting over 4 desks where we are now it’ll be a lot better though. Though it’ll probably be past my time when they do eventually move us anyway. I’m pretty sure there is more than 500 shared services staff, so where are the rest going to go? I just hope the parking is cheaper.

Bluey said :

poetix said :

Burghers of Gungahlin: the area’s top restaurant.

That doesnt make sense.

Sesame seed pun (and a very stale one too) based on a phrase in the story. I was commenting on my perceptions of the amenities of Gungahlin, while trying not to be boring like this.

I love explaining jokes.

Fully appreciate how workers who have worked in one area for years, probably have kids in childcare nearby to their work location could be disrupted. Given the way the Fed govt shifts people around canberra every 6-12 months (Centrelink was famous for this) I think ACT Govt has been lucky (Im sure there would be others that disagree). The accommodation in Callum from what I understand is in the need of a major fitout, and I guess the new accommodation will give them a more comfortable working environment (physically anyway).

A plus for Gunghalin though.

I-filed said :

… and requiring two-bedroom dwellings to have TWO car spaces in complete contravention of sustainability and actually encouraging households to make do with one car.

A better way to reduce car usage would be to provide better options. Without doing that, lowering the number of car spaces required for dwellings will only lead to an increase in on-street parking.

On one hand, I’m sure at least some staff will be glad to be out of Callum Offices, which I’ve heard is craptacular. On the other, sucks to be a staff member living on the southside…

Bluey said :

futto said :

Well that sucks for me….Changing a 10 km round trip on my pushbike to a 60 km one.

Where the heck do you live? Its <20km from Woden to Gungahlin.

Unless you live in Bredbo I dont see how it can increase 50km?

I used to go the opposite, (Gunners to Woden) Takes 25 mins in the car in the morning. Suck it up.

Round trip, not one way, so the trip has increased 25km one way, not 50km.

Oh god does this mean TWO-way Gungahlin traffic through the inner north?
Don’t you love Katie’s fake rhetoric about public transport. Like anyone is going to catch a bus to work in Gungahlin. Like there won’t be a “nod and wink” huge unofficial carpark allowed somewhere, like the one created on what used to be a beautiful picnic lawn at the National Library that is now an acre of cars every day.
Calling the ACT Government on its car hypocrisy: cheap rhetoric on public transport; then actively encouraging car culture through Summernats; and requiring two-bedroom dwellings to have TWO car spaces in complete contravention of sustainability and actually encouraging households to make do with one car.

Ha Ha, glad i left there 11 years ago then, The old InTact group will be pissed off. Especially those who live around Woden.

bd84 said :

Another perfect example of the government’s lack of logic. So they are planning to build the Jon Stanhope memorial mega building to get all core agencies in the one location in the city, but stick the centralised shared support services 15km away in Gungahlin? Great idea..

It’ll only be in Gungahlin till the election’s over. Then everyone will be back to the Jon Stanhope Administration Mega Centre.

Another perfect example of the government’s lack of logic. So they are planning to build the Jon Stanhope memorial mega building to get all core agencies in the one location in the city, but stick the centralised shared support services 15km away in Gungahlin? Great idea..

poetix said :

Burghers of Gungahlin: the area’s top restaurant.

That doesnt make sense.

Gungahlin Al said :

“One hopes the burghers of Gungahlin are suitable grateful.”

We certainly are.

GCC meetings have featured presentations by two of these proponents (both already owning land behind the Emergency Services and with plans ready to go), so to know there are another seven out there is quite intriguing.

But it does underline exactly what we have been saying to the ACT Government for more than five years – instead of guessing what the commercial market is like, put the land out there and see. From our discussions with various developers, we’ve always known that the limiting factor has not been interest, but land released to the market.

It’s harder now, with the squeeze of commercial credit, and had land been released four years ago, we’d probably already have office blocks by now.

This is where having the ACT Government put their ‘money where their mouth is’ has been the necessary catalyst. We believe that once this goes in, the whole local jobs situation will start to snowball. We put this argument to the government, they responded in line with our suggestion, so this news is most welcome to see after so many years of GCC lobbying.

You’ll also notice in the middle of the media release that they acknowledge there may be some infrastructure needs to be plugged as part of the equation. Direct public transport links between Gungahlin and Woden may be one gap in need of plugging. (Unnecessary of course if something very fast like light rail goes in…)

And if you’re in Gungahlin and you’d like to work locally, you now know what vacancies to start targeting!

I do and I will start looking!

Burghers of Gungahlin: the area’s top restaurant.

Oh dear, poor ACT Govt. Even when they try to do something to appease the vocal (?)minority, they still cop nothing but complaints! Hahahaha! Where’s Al when you need him? Surely this will be good for someone?!?

futto said :

Well that sucks for me….Changing a 10 km round trip on my pushbike to a 60 km one.

Sorry,
perhaps it’s time to move.

Gungahlin Al2:34 pm 09 Jan 12

“One hopes the burghers of Gungahlin are suitable grateful.”

We certainly are.

GCC meetings have featured presentations by two of these proponents (both already owning land behind the Emergency Services and with plans ready to go), so to know there are another seven out there is quite intriguing.

But it does underline exactly what we have been saying to the ACT Government for more than five years – instead of guessing what the commercial market is like, put the land out there and see. From our discussions with various developers, we’ve always known that the limiting factor has not been interest, but land released to the market.

It’s harder now, with the squeeze of commercial credit, and had land been released four years ago, we’d probably already have office blocks by now.

This is where having the ACT Government put their ‘money where their mouth is’ has been the necessary catalyst. We believe that once this goes in, the whole local jobs situation will start to snowball. We put this argument to the government, they responded in line with our suggestion, so this news is most welcome to see after so many years of GCC lobbying.

You’ll also notice in the middle of the media release that they acknowledge there may be some infrastructure needs to be plugged as part of the equation. Direct public transport links between Gungahlin and Woden may be one gap in need of plugging. (Unnecessary of course if something very fast like light rail goes in…)

And if you’re in Gungahlin and you’d like to work locally, you now know what vacancies to start targeting!

futto said :

Well that sucks for me….Changing a 10 km round trip on my pushbike to a 60 km one.

Where the heck do you live? Its <20km from Woden to Gungahlin.

Unless you live in Bredbo I dont see how it can increase 50km?

I used to go the opposite, (Gunners to Woden) Takes 25 mins in the car in the morning. Suck it up.

The internet connection at Shared Services is going to get a workout this afternoon.

Well that sucks for me….Changing a 10 km round trip on my pushbike to a 60 km one.

Yay, more traffic with less road infrastructure. Thanks Katy.

Though really, could force some issues regarding infrastructure, so maybe it’s for the best. If anything it will at least benefit the Siren Bar come 2:30pm on Fridays.

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