Work on the Victorian Government’s landmark Ballarat GovHub is progressing, with major demolition and excavation works now underway.
Located at 300 Mair Street, the Ballarat GovHub will be home to up to 1000 Victorian Government employees, including up to 600 public sector positions relocated from Melbourne, helping to revitalise a major part of the Ballarat CBD, generate long-term jobs growth, increase business confidence and further private sector investment.
The new Ballarat GovHub will cost roughly $100 million dollars to develop. The Victorian Government has provided an additional $47 million in funding to support the relocation of public sector positions and fit-out of the building and is expected to enter into a long-term lease-arrangement with the eventual facility owner.
The building will feature:
- An active ground floor space, incorporating the bricks and masonry theme of the Civic Hall precinct.
- A glass conservatory linking the Civic Hall to the GovHub.
- A reconstructed lower hall space for multi-purpose use.
- Five storeys of office space with a strong visual connection to the Ballarat CBD.
- Two levels of basement car parking offering around 220 car parks.
- End-of-trip facilities to encourage walking and cycling.
Construction of the GovHub is anticipated to involve more than 50,000 work hours and create 500 jobs across the construction team and designers John Wardle Architects. It will also provide training opportunities for nine apprentices.
Minister for Regional Development Jaclyn Symes visited the site last Thursday to inspect progress on the demolition of the Lower Hall and excavation works, meeting with the local construction team Kane and Nicholsont.
There are more than 30 local and regional suppliers from Ballarat, Wendouree, Bendigo and Geelong who are contracted for crane management, building supplies, hydraulics and electrical, engineering and waste removal.
Development Victoria, the developer for the project, has advised the northbound lane of Armstrong Street North has been closed between Mair Street and Market Street to allow for the movement of heavy vehicles in and out of the site.
Additional parking to offset the demolition of the on-site 275 space car park is also being made available thanks to a $2 million contribution from the Government towards the City of Ballarat’s car parking strategy.
Construction of the Ballarat GovHub commenced in early 2019 and is anticipated to be complete by the end of 2020.