Page 5664 - Week 14 - Tuesday, 6 December 2011
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
As I noted in my original speech on this motion, the ACT government’s immediate priority is the delivery of the Gungahlin office accommodation. The government is committed to stimulating the economic base of Gungahlin by providing long-term employment opportunities in the town centre. The proposed government office in Gungahlin will have a direct and positive effect on Gungahlin businesses. It will create jobs directly and indirectly in the Gungahlin town centre as a result of relocation of staff and act as a drawcard to illustrate the benefits of locating jobs in the town centre.
The registration of interest for the Gungahlin office block was opened last month. The ROI is the first stage of the process to realise the government office building in Gungahlin. It will be used to establish a short list of up to five tenderers who may be invited to submit a tender when the request for tender is announced. Only registrants under the ROI will be considered for the subsequent request for tender phase. The RFT will specify in detail the requirements of the ACT government in a functional design brief for the base building. A separate procurement process will be conducted for the fit-out of the building. In parallel to the ROI, as I have outlined previously, Cox Architecture has been engaged to undertake the feasibility for the project.
In amending the motion the Greens sought to ensure that feasibility studies and market testing both include an examination of adaptive reuse of existing buildings and consideration of an office precinct and that the whole of life cycle analysis of the environmental impact be considered. In terms of the government office in Gungahlin, adaptive reuse is obviously not an option because it is a new town centre. It is hoped that the new government office building in Gungahlin will act as a catalyst for other employers to establish their office in this town centre, thus creating more of an office precinct.
Obviously, though, the Civic office building is a different prospect. As I stated in the original debate, a range of options were analysed and evaluated in determining a way forward for the Civic office building and this included the adaptive reuse of buildings and the whole of life cycle analysis—as with any project that the government pursues. The analysis by the government and our consultants has determined that a new government built and owned office block is the best option, both environmentally and economically.
However, Cox Architects are leading a team of consultants examining the adaptive reuse of existing office buildings and consideration of the options for an ACT government office precinct. The buildings being examined for adaptive reuse and consolidation into a campus-style precinct are located close to the Legislative Assembly. We will also be testing the delivery of a Civic office building in the market in 2012.
We will welcome any proposal from industry that demonstrates that an adaptive reuse of existing buildings or an office precinct is indeed a better environmental and economic option. The government will, however, make a final decision based on the best overall value for the ACT taxpayer. The best value will be based on build cost, environmental performance, occupational health and safety for staff, running costs and efficiencies to be gained from having key public servants in the same location.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video