MidCoast Council is investigating the viability of building a mega local government office in the gutted Masters building in Taree.
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Interim general manager Glenn Handford “is thinking of possibly housing everyone at Masters,” says council’s team leader of tourism events and communication, Donna Hudson.
“If MidCoast Water is integrated into MidCoast Council then it may be an option instead of having five or six offices. Nothing is concrete and no decisions would be made until after the council election in September.”
The proposal to dissolve MidCoast Water and transfer its assets, liabilities and functions to MidCoast Council is currently before the Minister for Local Government, Gabrielle Upton and earlier this month she called for submissions on the proposal with the deadline being April 12.
MidCoast Water has two customer service centres in the MidCoast Council local government area – Muldoon Street, Taree and Breese Parade in Forster. The merger of Greater Taree, Great Lakes and Gloucester Shire councils to create MidCoast Council has former administration offices located in Taree, Forster and Gloucester. The area also supports numerous council depots.
Mr Handford’s decision to consider the creation of a mega local government office in Taree is consistent with his objective to increase the efficiency of MidCoast Council, to remove service and staffing duplication and deliver cost savings that can be directed into reducing the area’s infrastructure backlog and improve roads.
Thousands of Manning Valley residents daily drive past the gutted Masters building on Manning River Drive. Since its closure in December 2016, community speculation about possible future uses for the site have included the relocation of Spotlight Taree from Victoria Street, the return of Kmart, the addition of JB Hi-Fi and even the establishment of Costco. In February, site owner Home Consortium chairman, David Di Pilla ruled out speculation that the site would be used as a dairy processing factory.
Mr Di Pilla said “we are looking for the highest and best use for each of the sites and we are waiting to see where we end up in terms of demand for that particular site.”
