Fraser Coast Regional Council to build council admin centre at Kent St

Fraser Coast council has revealed the location for a new council admin building in Maryborough - a multimillion-dollar decision that’s been years in the making and the subject of a hot recent debate. Here is the latest:

After years of debate, the Fraser Coast council has finally reached a decision on where to put a new Maryborough council admin centre and library.

The plan is to build the council admin and customer service centre at The Hub at 350 Kent St, and renovate the existing library on Bazaar St.

Councillors discussed specifics about the rebuild behind closed doors during Wednesday’s council meeting, but when they emerged they voted unanimously in support of Kent Street.

Deputy Mayor Paul Truscott chaired the meeting at Hervey Bay Chambers on Tavistock St, while Mayor George Seymour was out of town.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Mr Truscott said he was “very excited” that council had passed a resolution to now allow them to do their “due diligence” on looking at options for the development.

The Hub is located at 350 Kent St and has essentially functioned as a community noticeboard for years.

He said the plan was to build the council building at 350 Kent St, and complete a “major renovation and refurbishment” of the existing Maryborough library in Bazaar St.

After the previous building located at 350 Kent St burnt down a few years ago, the function of the space has essentially been a community noticeboard.

Upgrades to City Hall, while keeping its rich heritage theme, are also on the cards to accommodate for staff.

Mr Truscott said it would be making use of a space that was not being well utilised.

During the meeting, councillor Daniel Sanderson said the decision had been “years in the making” and thanked his colleagues for reaching a “great outcome” for the community.

“The city region is undergoing great transformation and this will add greatly to the revitalisation that we are continuing for the Maryborough CBD...” he said.

Cr Sanderson said it also gave residents “peace of mind” that the council was moving forward and had made a decision.

Green space is where the Maryborough council admin centre once stood in the CBD.

Mr Truscott spoke in support and said it was a “momentous step forward” after many years of “sitting in the unknown”.

“We’ve listened to the community, we’ve heard their feedback, we’re taking this step forward...” he said.

At the previous council meeting on July 27, councillors voted to let the matter lie on the table due to a number of questions they still had about the development in the Maryborough CBD.

The Maryborough admin building was demolished in 2020. Photo: Fraser Coast Regional Council.

Since the Maryborough admin building was demolished in 2020, debate has raged on about where the new council centre should be built, with some preferring the green space on the periphery of the CBD as a result of the demolition.

Campaigner Nancy Bates posted on social media in support of the council’s change of heart after the July meeting, and has strongly advocated to let the green space remain in the CBD.

She described the idea to use the space at 350 Kent St as “innovative”.