VicRoads Ringwood: Views from Maroondah’s new tallest building

It’s Ringwood’s tallest building, and this $100m office tower is set to give up to 1000 government workers superior views and other nice perks.

Rooftop barbecues looking down on Ringwood could soon become a regular activity for up to 1000 public service workers set to move into Maroondah’s new tallest building.

VicRoads’ customer service hub has opened on the ground level of the $100m EastCo tower, built by Eastland owners Queensland Investment Corporation.

The tower, at 111 Maroondah Hwy, will also the new base for the state government’s department of transport and has capacity for up to 1000 workers on six levels, with most set to move in next month.

Leader toured the VicRoads kiosk and the building’s rooftop, which is the highest vantage point in Maroondah at 11-storeys.

A view towards the Dandenong Ranges from the top of the 11-storey EastCo tower in Ringwood, Maroondah’s new tallest building. Picture: Kiel Egging.

The rooftop area for Department of Transport staff at their new offices at Ringwood's EastCo Tower. Picture: Kiel Egging.

The rooftop contains sheltered meeting areas at both ends for workers to soak up the sun on fine days, along with barbecue facilities and water fountains.

A department spokesman said the new offices would allow “greater collaboration with facilities that will ensure they can keep Victorians moving on our (transport) network.”

“What was once an empty block next to Ringwood railway station has developed into a new modern, state-of-the-art building, complementing the vibrant Ringwood Town Square,” the spokesman said.

The skyline towards Vermont and Wantirna from the top of the 11-storey EastCo Tower in Ringwood. Picture: Kiel Egging.

The $100m EastCo tower on Maroondah Highway is completed, with VicRoads' kiosk open and Department of Transport workers to move in shortly. Picture: Kiel Egging.

Despite having four levels of parking, the spaces at the EastCo tower are reserved for VicRoads’ fleet cars and department workers.

Anyone wanting to visit VicRoads has instead been advised to use Eastland’s carparks nearby.

The customer service hub is designed for licence-related matters and other walk-in inquiries, with driver testing at a dedicated centre on Heatherdale Rd which opened in April.

Its arrival led to complaints from surrounding residents about increased traffic and their streets being clogged by learner drivers.

VicRoads’ Ringwood area manager Priya Kirubasankar said the organisation had expanded its licence testing routes from 11 to 18 in the wake of the complaints.

“We’ve addressed those concerns and expanded the area we were testing, and we’re doing continuous audits to make sure they (instructors) are not using one particular street more than once or twice,” she said.

“We’ll continue to monitor and review these testing routes to ensure we have the smallest possible impact on surrounding residents.”

Ms Kirubasankar said the hub had 20 workers for over-the-counter transactions, which includes facilities such as photo booths for licence photos and eye charts on electronic screens.

Shahnaz Davarkhah and Priya Kirubasankar at VicRoads' new customer service hub in Ringwood. Picture: Kiel Egging.

VicRoads customer service team members Adam Nelsen, Shahnaz Davarkhah and Nilanka De Silva at their new hub in Ringwood. Picture: Kiel Egging.

“We’re very excited to open in the centre of Ringwood, being close to public transport and right near Eastland as well,” she said.

“It’s fresh, it’s got plenty of lighting and very welcoming to the customers.”

Two long-planned projects for buildings which will be taller than EastCo have been approved by Maroondah Council, but are yet to begin construction.

They include the East End development at 28-30 Maroondah Highway, which has plans for apartments and a hotel across three towers, including one reaching 19-storeys.

A similar development, Ringwood Residences, is also in the works at 301 Maroondah Highway near Ringwood Lake Park, with one of its buildings set to reach 14-storeys.