Public servants urged to embrace new Port Adelaide office location by local traders
THE objections of public servants who don’t want to move to Port Adelaide’s new $40 million office building are “baffling” and “narrow-minded”, according to traders who have urged them to embrace it.
THE objections of public servants who don’t want to move to Port Adelaide’s new $40 million office building are “baffling” and “narrow-minded”, according to traders who have urged them to embrace it.
About 500 Renewal SA and Shared Services department workers will start relocating to the Nile St building in stages from April.
Public Service Association secretary Nev Kitchin said about half of the workers were opposed to the move, and many would quit because of increased travel times and “aesthetic” concerns about working in an industrial area.
However, Crispian Fielke, who runs the Port Admiral Hotel and owns city bars Pink Moon Saloon and Clever Little Tailor, said there was no shortage of attractions in the Port.
“I love it, I’ve got businesses in the city and here now and I think it is a wonderful place to be and has a great energy,” Mr Fielke said.
“The locals are great people so (the workers’ concern) is all a bit baffling.”
Korked bar owner Sandy Ormsby said the Port had evolved and now had a “cool community vibe”.
“I thought (the objections) were pretty narrow-minded given how much the Port has grown in the past six months,” Ms Ormsby said.
Roustabout Art owner Sarah-Jane Cook said the public servants she knew were happy to soon be working on Nile St.
She said those who had concerns were perhaps unaware of “how great the Port had become”.
“Maybe once they get here, they will actually realise it is a great place to work,” Ms Cook said.
A State Government spokeswoman said the new office was a key project in Labor’s plan to have more people living, working, investing and visiting Port Adelaide.
She said a new rail spur to Baker St in Port Adelaide, due to start construction this year, would provide improved public transport.
“Relocating hundreds of public servants to Port Adelaide will bring new economic activity to the Port, delivering a much-needed boost for local businesses,” the spokeswoman said.
“While some staff will need to travel further as a result of the relocation, many employees living in the western suburbs, Le Fevre Peninsula and northern suburbs will benefit from the move.”
The Government has committed to lease the Nile St building from developer epc.Pacific for the next 15 years.