Eastland owners QIC covering $25 million cost of Maroondah Council’s new Ringwood offices
A land swap deal has led to Eastland’s owners forking out $25 million for Maroondah Council’s new offices, saving ratepayers from being slugged.
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Eastland owner Queensland Investment Corporation is footing the bill for Maroondah Council’s $25 million offices, saving ratepayers a hit to the hip pocket.
The council had previously stated the project, which is expected to be finished in May, would be built at no cost to ratepayers.
Mayor Mike Symon said the arrangement was made as part of the council’s land swap deal with QIC in 2017.
It exchanged the former Ringwood Library site on Warrandyte Rd opposite the centre for the new offices, which will be connected to the Realm library.
Realm and Ringwood Town Square were built in a previous land swap deal between the two organisations.
“The council will achieve a similar outcome for the extension of Realm with all of the construction costs funded through a similar land swap agreement with QIC,” Cr Symon said.
“On completion, the $25 million five-star, green star office, built to council’s specifications,
will be delivered to the council by QIC, who conducted the tender process.
“There has been no need to borrow extra money, impact rates, or make cuts to council’s services to the Maroondah community to achieve the Realm extension.”
Cr Symon said the Ringwood Library site was “approved for disposal” by the council in June 2017 following a public consultation process.
He said the council would not have to fund any construction costs for QIC’s future use of the site.
“On delivery of the Realm extension to council, the Warrandyte Rd property transfers to QIC and council has no responsibility for the land thereafter,” he said.
Eastland general manager Greg Balmforth said there was “a range of components” to the project which were commercial-in-confidence and did not comment further.
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Meanwhile, the council will not offer any free all-day, on-site parking for visitors to its new base.
Cr Symon said existing parking arrangements would remain around the offices, which includes paid parking at Eastland after three hours.
He said there would be on-site parking for council fleet cars, while council staff would get free parking off-site near the offices.