A decison on where an $8.3 million state government centre will be located is expected within months, according to Agriculture Minister Peter Walsh.
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Warrnambool mayor Jacinta Ermacora and city chief executive Bruce Anson met with Mr Walsh yesterday to promote the soon-to-close Timor Street post office as an ideal site for the centre.
The state government committed last month to an $8.3 million Department of Primary Industries centre based in Warrnambool.
The centre would also accommodate other public servants from various state government departments across the city and region.
Mr Walsh said the state government had consulted with the city council and was keen to get the project decided upon before the end of the financial year.
“No site will be ideal. If you base it on the city outskirts, people will say it’s too far from the main part of Warrnambool and when it’s located in the city, parking becomes an issue,” he said.
“That’s why I’m here to talk through these issues with Warrnambool City Council to determine where the centre would be best placed.”
South West Coast MP Denis Napthine said more public servants in the region would stimulate the city’s economy.
Mr Anson said the central location of the old post office would be an attractive location for any state government centre.
He claimed the additional car parking needed for public servants would be met through a master plan for the railway station precinct.
Meanwhile, Mr Walsh announced yesterday the state government had signed off on a $31.3 million information network.
“The system upgrade will bring services and information direct to the farm gate through field-based mobile computing technology,” he said.
“It will improve client case management and boost the profitability and productivity of farm businesses by giving producers better access to information and the latest research and development.”
