Queanbeyan-based council staff will be consolidated into a five-storey office complex as the first stage of a major transformation of the CBD.
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Staff are currently located in 11 buildings spread around the city, and once the new administration building on Crawford Street is complete these vacated sites plan to be made available for private development.
The Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council’s general manager Peter Tegart said an unsolicited bid was lodged last year to transform the sites into commercial and retail spaces.
The council is yet to identify who has made the bid. However, the development is set to include a cinema, office space, residential and car parking developments.
“Council is currently finalising a draft CBD transformation strategy which will provide some high level actions to reinvigorate the Queanbeyan CBD, including a retail plan, laneways plan and much more,” Mr Tegart said.
Mr Tegart said the proposal will be publicly exhibited in the coming months and will include the renewal of the CBD master plan.
“The master plan, originally developed in 2009, is scheduled for renewal and will take on board the aspects of the unsolicited bids, but also look at the open space and the public domain in CBD to stage future improvements in council's financial plan,” he said.
The council has invited the proponent to resubmit their proposal on a staged basis detailing specific locations, plans, and an intended sequence of construction.
Mr Tegart said the council is unable to reveal further information due to the infancy of the plan.
“If it progresses, there are a number of processes to follow under the unsolicited proposals guide, which forms the basis of the Heads of Agreement,” Mr Tegart said.
The unsolicited proposals guide was published by the council in August last year.
“There will be opportunities for the community to make comment on the master plan, proposed developments and the proposed sale of council-owned land.”
The five-storey administration building will accommodate council staff, council chambers, a smart hub and also offer tenancies.
Concept designs will be presented to the community for comment mid-2017.
The council administration building will only house staff who are currently based in Queanbeyan with council employees in smaller locations such as Bungendore and Braidwood staying in place.
Due to the conditions of the council merge last year, the same number of employees must remain at offices based outside of Queanbeyan.
