Fraser Coast council backflips over where to put new Maryborough admin building

An outspoken critic of the plan to rebuild in the heart of the Maryborough CBD has commended the council’s decision and Deputy Mayor Paul Truscott for ‘pushing’ on the issue. Read the latest details:

The location of a new Fraser Coast Regional Council admin building in Maryborough remains up in the air after councillors voted to explore other options to the proposed CBD site on Wednesday.

The council discussed the construction of a customer service centre and library at 350 Kent St, and the refurbishment of the Maryborough City Hall to accommodate the balance of staff, behind closed doors at the end of Wednesday’s general meeting.

When they emerged, it was revealed they had voted to let the matter lie on the table for further investigation and consultation.

Since the Maryborough administration building was demolished in 2020, a new location for the admin centre has been a hot topic of debate among councillors and the community.

Demolition of the building at the original location on Kent St opened up a new green space on the periphery of the CBD, with some preferring the greenery over a building at the flood-prone site.

The council announced in August 2021, it had decided to build the new admin building on the land in the CBD - this triggered a wave of protest and debate.

Nancy Bates is the president of the committee who created the 'Cistern Chapel' precinct in Maryborough.

Campaigner Nancy Bates posted in support of the council change of heart after Wednesday’s meeting.

Ms Bates has strongly advocated to let the green space remain in the CBD. She described the idea of a modern, two-storey library at The Hub as “innovative”.

“It would bring pedestrian traffic into a critical area and help stimulate the much-loved inner city,” she said.

“In cities all over the world, old traditional retail areas are struggling to re-invent themselves but Maryborough’s heritage heart is well on the way to a terrific renaissance.”

She said Deputy Mayor Paul Truscott “wisely pushed” for another month to explore the idea.

“Even with its cute animal statues portraying the old Inspector of Nuisances, The Hub has been a dead spot in the city centre since three shops were burnt in a 2009 arson attack,” she said.

“The Maryborough council bought the fire-scarred buildings to clean the site up.

“It has been waiting for a new life since.”

The end of the demolition of the original Fraser Coast Council admin centre in Maryborough.

Mr Truscott ran Wednesday’s meeting, with Mayor George Seymour in isolation with Covid.

Mr Truscott said after the meeting councillors voted to let the matter lie on the table due to a number of questions they still had about the new admin centre.

“I think it’s great to see that we are progressing here, it’s something that we need to let the staff know, the community know, that we are moving head,” he said.

“There has been some concern that the matter has stalled, there definitely hasn’t, we are looking to proceed, but because the matter is a decision that is a multimillion-dollar decision... it’s going to be a decision that’s going to last for generations.

“We don’t want to make the decision on the fly, we want to make sure that we are fully informed of all the possible scenarios, and know the best outcome for Maryborough and the Fraser Coast Region.”

Fraser Coast Regional Council at the Toogoom Community Hall on Wednesday, July 27, for the first council meeting of the financial year.

Debate about the issue has been whether the council should rebuild on the flood-prone site, or find a new location.

Mr Seymour had voted against rebuilding the Maryborough admin centre at the old location in the past, raising concerns about the unsuitability of the site.

The matter will be discussed again at the August council meeting.