SUNSHINE is harvesting the fruits of a 21st-century revival as it transforms itself into Brimbank’s official central business district.
Council last week delivered a decision that chairman John Watson knows will concern some sectors of the wider community and delight others.
Plans are out for the amalgamation of most council departments, which will set up in new $53.1 million headquarters on the Sunshine library site.
Acknowledging the council still needed to “work hard” to maintain economic stability of Keilor Village,
Mr Watson pointed out that more than 800,000 people live within 20 minutes of the Sunshine CBD, with major project investments under way, including the $1 billion Regional Rail Link, Foundry Towers development and expressions of interest for more redevelopments already in the pipeline.
“Sunshine is as close to Melbourne as Camberwell,” Mr Watson said.
“I know the first question people will ask is, ‘Can the city afford this?’ However, inefficiency costs of the present set-up are well over $1 million a year.”
A report presented to administrators at last week’s council meeting highlighted deficiencies that have arisen since the district-based model was first adopted to maintain five customer service centres when amalgamations created Brimbank.
“These deficiencies include lack of space, inefficient operations, ageing assets as well as the high cost to council of travel and productivity loss due to officers being in a number of locations,” the report said.
It also highlighted market testing and community consultation of council’s service delivery business model. The research, undertaken by the Sweett Group and probity auditor Moore Stephens, concluded the best value outcome was to develop a primary administrative centre on existing council-owned land.
The decision recommends that council call for expressions of interest in constructing its new headquarters and also for tenant partners in the new building, which will retain and expand the present library and community areas.
Sunshine Business Association president Bruce White welcomed the news, especially the retention and expansion of Sunshine library.
“This is the best library in the west,” he said. “What this decision does is affirm Sunshine as the capital city of Brimbank.”
Mr White said a new multideck car park proposed for railway travellers and others at Dawson Street would also be a boon for the new CBD.
“It’s just going to streamline things. At the moment you never know where [council] meetings are going to be — they’re all over the place.”
Keilor Historical Society president Susan Jennison expressed “deep concerns” for the local economy with the loss of council offices in Keilor. “Keilor for a while talked of secession,” she said. “Brimbank is too large anyway.”
