Community benefits from Civic Centre refurbishment

civic-centre-council

The local community will benefit through a unique partnership between Council, Hobsons Bay Community Fund (HBCF) and Egans, as preparations are underway for refurbishment works on the Altona Civic Centre, including a transformation of our Customer Service and Community Meeting Space.

As part of the refurbishment, office furniture no longer suitable for use will be repurposed and sold through the online sales portal of Egans, a local asset management business with a Wise Office Furniture Program who works in partnership with the HBCF. The proceeds will then benefit the local community through the HBCF’s annual grants program.

The HBCF and Egans collaboration with Council is just one way the community was put front and centre in the refurbishment project. The redesigned Civic Centre will better service the Hobsons Bay community by improving their access to Council information and resources through new technologies.

New features will include: a redesigned community-focused Customer Service area; a range of meeting, co-working and presentation spaces; a redeveloped community exhibition space; a children’s area; a digital information visitor hub, including interactive and multimedia screens featuring information on Council activities and projects; self-help tools to manage Council related registrations, applications and payments; and a redesigned and accessible Civic Centre entrance walkway.

The remainder of the Civic Centre will be redeveloped into an activity based working environment with a diverse mix of working and meeting spaces.

An activity based working model has been chosen in the context of a broader transformation initiative taking place at Council called Hobsons 2.0, which enables an agile working environment focused on collaboration, innovation and sustainability to better deliver for the people of Hobsons Bay.

Works on the Civic Centre will commence in late November 2019 and are scheduled for completion in approximately October 2020. Council’s Customer Service centre will operate from the Altona Theatre foyer in the week of 18 November 2019 to June 2020, delivering full access to Council services and officers as normal.

Statement attributable to Mayor of Hobsons Bay, Cr Colleen Gates:

“We can’t wait for our community and staff to be able to enjoy the new working environment, meeting rooms, exhibition spaces and our technology hub with interactive features. We will be able to better connect with our community, support their diverse needs and offer them a range of new and improved spaces to use.”

Statement attributable to Deputy Mayor of Hobsons Bay, Cr Sandra Wilson:

“We are thrilled to partner with the HBCF and Egans to give back to the people of Hobsons Bay through this project. The Civic Centre refurbishment project will generate some great wins for the community in a practical and engaging way.”

Statement quoting Adrian Butera, Committee Chair, Hobsons Bay Community Fund:

“We are proud to partner with the Council and Egans in this great initiative that will support the people of Hobsons Bay. It has been a great collaboration and the community ultimately wins!

Statement quoting Andrew Egan, Managing Director, Egans:

“Working with the Council and a strong local philanthropic organisation like HBCF has been a real highlight. It is partnerships like this one that brings a genuine reward when you can see how the community benefits from your work.

/Public Release. View in full here.