By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
MAYOR Cr Keith Fagg has called for Geelong’s DisabilityCare Australia headquarters to be located in the city centre.
Cr Fagg said the headquarters could play a major role in revitalising the city area.
The national headquarters will create around 300 new jobs once DisabilityCare is fully rolled out from 2019/2020.
The headquarters will add to 120 jobs already announced for the agency’s Geelong regional office, to based in a former Centrelink building in Lt Malop St, with the Barwon launch site opening next month.
The head office will include staff responsible for managing the scheme’s operation, such as national operations management, chief executive officer and corporate services.
“I expect the office would need to be in the CBD because it is the business heart of Geelong,” Cr Fagg said.
Constructing a new building to house the headquarters would meet government requirements such as energy ratings and provide a construction boost to the city’s economy, he said.
“We need to get a feeling of the scale of the premises needed, the style of the building, how many people will end up in it.
“There are a number of sites around the city that could be developed for this purpose.
“The government may decide to develop its own premises or lease from a developer who has provided a purpose-built facility.
“I’m sure there are a number of developers interested in this project. Having a government department as a tenant would be a blue-chip investment.”
Cr Fagg said he would seek to meet National Disability Insurance Scheme Launch Transition Agency head David Bowen in Canberra soon.
Cr Fagg hoped Geelong would become the base for the state rollout of DisabilityCare following the Barwon Launch Site trial.
Council’s community development portfolio holder, Cr Kylie Fisher, said the Barwon Launch Site trail wa already attracting new businesses to Geelong.
“There are lots of business opportunities associated with this announcement. People will need support, everything from car or home modification to rehabilitation equipment or mobility aids,” Cr Fisher said.
“There could be opportunities in manufacturing, with trials of new equipment conducted here and then exported interstate.
“We have to be innovative and think outside the square because whatever we do becomes national.”
