A new administration building for Maitland City Council employees could be open for business by 2021.
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Tuesday’s council meeting agenda carried a report on a timeline for the new structure which is proposed to be built on the corner of High and Devonshire streets in the city.
Council’s senior project architect Aaron Cook said in a report that there has been continued investigation into a capital expenditure review and procurement options which culminated in a briefing for councillors on February 13.
In the report Mr Cook outlined the key stages of work in a timeline. This included the development application and a call for tenders being lodged within the next 12 months, an 18-month construction time frame and an early 2021 occupancy date.
“A range of expert design consultant services will be required up to the development application stage,” Mr Cook said. “These include architecture, traffic, planning, heritage, structural engineering, site and building services, geotechnical and contamination.”
Speaking to the motion on Tuesday night, Cr Peter Garnham said it was an “exciting” development and “something needed for our staff”.
Cr Phil Penfold moved the motion, with Cr Garnham seconding it, with councillors voting unanimously in favour of it.
Reports detailing the next stages of planning are expected to be presented to council within the next three months. It is anticipated that the cost of all consultant fees for the concept design development and documentation stage will be in the order of $350,000
At a December 2016 meeting, councillors discussed the proposal and voted to push ahead with plans for the development, which, at that stage, was expected to cost between $20 and $30 million.
Council’s existing administration building was the site of the city’s former Ambulance station. The current administration building was officially opened in 1983.