Civic centre plans on hold

By Paul Dunlop
A DECISION on expansion plans for Cardinia Shire’s civic centre will be the job of a new council.
Mayor Garry Runge said the issue of where council would make its home in Pakenham – a hot topic of discussion over the past 12 months – was unlikely to be resolved until after council elections in November.
Cr Runge said the civic centre was among several issues that could not be decided by the council during the countdown to the elections.
Cr Runge said once the caretaker period began next month, the council was limited in terms of its decisionmaking powers.
Essentially, he said, councillors were unable to make decisions of significance that could have ramifications beyond the current council term.
The future of the council offices has been uncertain since plans for a landmark onestop shop civic centre in the centre of town were dashed after intended tenant Southern Health pulled out of the project.
The council has since declared its Henry Street precinct would most likely incorporate a retail, business and entertainment centre.
A cinema complex is among the options being touted for the site.
Meanwhile, the council has also said its current headquarters in Henty Way are in dire need of an upgrade.
“The Henty Way building was built more than 20 years ago to service the Shire of Pakenham,” Cr Runge said.
“It now services an area almost three times that size with a rapidly growing population so further storage and work space is urgently needed.”
Funding has been set aside in this year’s budget to further explore the council’s options.
The budget documents also provide for up to $10 million to be spent over the next several years on council accommodation.
Cr Runge said it was disappointing the council was not able to continue with its original onestop shop plan, but said this was impractical following the decision by Southern Health to withdraw from the partnership with council.
“The good news is that the building was only ever part of a much larger development vision,” he said.
“This has proven to be an excellent opportunity to attract business and employment to Pakenham’s thriving retail centre, and pay a handsome dividend to the community.”