Hundreds of new jobs will flow to Geelong when Department of Human Services (DHS) relocates to a new headquarters in the city, according to a federal MP.
The DHS’s co-tenancy of a new building with the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) would be a “great boost for our city”, said Corangamite MP Sarah Henderson.
“This presents so many opportunities for our city through construction of a state-of-the-art office; a landmark building housing 450 NDIA staff and contractors and up to 400 DHS staff,” she said.
“The headquarters will also deliver several hundred jobs during construction.”
The DHS already has staff in other Geelong offices but would have to reassign more positions from other cities to house 400 employees in the new premises.
The building would stamp Geelong as a “centre of excellence in government administration”, Ms Henderson said.
“There are so many additional benefits for Geelong in terms of indirect employment for organisations working with and servicing the NDIA and DHS.
“The location of hundreds of employees in the Geelong CBD will have a multiplier effect on jobs, growth and investment.”
The DHS move to Geelong was confirmed this week when the NDIA announced it would revise its initial building tender, released late last year, to make room for the new tenant.
NDIA chief David Bowen said the co-location of the agencies represented “whole-of-government efforts to achieve optimal property management outcomes”.
The revised tender sought 12,700 square metres of office space as well as additional car-parking and common areas.
The inclusion of DHS staff in the new building could send existing proposals for the NDIA headquarters back to the drawing board.
Businessman Michael King and Geelong firm Techne Development are among proponents who released separate concept plans for the NDIA last year before the DHS announcement.
Techne proposed building, for central Geelong’s Carlton Hotel site, was valued at $120 million.
Mr Bowen said an information session next week would help prospective tenderers understand the revised tender, available at AusTender’s website.
