By ANEEKA SIMONIS
CARDINIA Shire Council’s new headquarters was officially opened by the Governor of Victoria last week who remarked that space was needed to service the area’s booming population.
His Excellency The Hon Alex Chernov AC QC described the new Officer-based civic centre as a “state-of-the-art” facility that will better suit the shire’s continued growth.
“The shire’s population has expanded far more than expected,” Governor Chernov said.
“The centre will service the growing population which is expected to increase ten-fold in the next 20-30 years.”
The official ceremony took place on Wednesday 25 February yet the building has been in full swing since November last year.
The All Together Choir kicked off the ceremony with the national anthem which was followed by a traditional welcoming and smoking ceremony by senior Elder Aunty Caroline.
Students from the nearby Officer Specialist School also got involved in the ceremony by forming the guard of honour which welcomed his Excellency and his wife Elizabeth Hopkins.
Cardinia Shire Mayor Leticia Wilmot said it was a pleasure welcoming the Governor back to the shire after his recent tour in the area in October last year.
“We are privileged to have the Governor and Mrs Chernov (Hopkins) officially open the civic centre, and we hope the Cardinia shire community will join us for this celebration,” she said.
His Excellency Hon Chernov said the shire buildings were well planned out – noting council had plans to relocate from the Pakenham offices 15 years ago but searched around until they found the best location to suit their future community.
“The old offices couldn’t accommodate everyone under the same roof … they were using portable buildings to accommodate staff.”
The $25 million civic centre was designed to bring all of council’s indoor staff into one location to improve residents’ access to personnel as well as improve efficiency operations.
It is also designed to be environmentally forward – with expectations the green-energy building will help reduce 50 per cent carbon emissions and save 70 per cent on water use each year.
According to Cardinia Shire Council, the customer service team has answered over 30,000 calls, raised over 9000 service requests and served 5500 ‘walk in’ community members since it was opened three months ago.
“Serving the needs of the growing community, while maintaining the unique characteristics of the shire, is council’s top priority and is managed more effectively from our new offices,” Cr Wilmot said.
