The Queanbeyan CBD has been a topic of conversation for many years, with the main theme being ‘how do we bring life to the CBD?’
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The council has been very active in this area over the past several years with the redevelopment of Crawford Street, the recent upgrades to Queen Elizabeth Park and further beautification works along Monaro Street. These projects have all delivered benefits to the Queanbeyan CBD.
However, a decision of the council on Wednesday night will set in process the transformation of the Queanbeyan CBD.
The catalyst for this transformation is the development of the Queanbeyan Head Office, Tenancy and Smart Hub in the Lowe Street carpark. In the lead up to Wednesday’s meeting, councillors were taken on a tour of staff accommodation in Queanbeyan and all councillors were of the view that the current arrangements – with staff working out of 11 buildings, including offices in kitchens/bedrooms – was inadequate and needed to be addressed.
With all Queanbeyan-based staff located in one, purpose-built building it will allow the council to consider the possible sale of a number of surplus properties for potential mixed-use development.
The Queanbeyan Head Office and Smart Hub is a large project. Carparking is always a hot topic in Queanbeyan and that has been taken into account and planned for with the design of the Head Office and Smart Hub. Council staff, and staff of the major tenant, would occupy two levels of basement carparking. Public carparking will be provided via an underground carpark and on street carparking along a new road that will be established running through to Crawford Street.
As part of the project, the council has appointed a company to demolish the former administration building at 257 Crawford Street. This space will be used for temporary carparking during the construction of the Head Office and Smart Hub and will then be converted into a green civic space.
In terms of funding the construction of the building, the council is proposing to borrow $27.7m via a low interest loan obtained from the NSW Treasury Corporation, while a further $13.3m will be contributed from the council reserves. Of that, $11.3m would be from the Queanbeyan water and sewer reserves, with water and sewer staff to occupy the building. A further $16.4m of expenditure is planned for the public basement carparking and public domain works. Funding of this would include $11.3m worth of loans, the proceeds of the possible sale of council-owned properties in the CBD and grants and contributions.
The council will now progress the development application for the Head Office and Smart Hub, and when a lease agreement is executed with the major tenant, we will be in a position to call for tenders for construction.