Kingborough Mayor Dean Winter wants hydro jobs in Kingston
Kingborough Mayor Dean Winter has a plan for Kingston Park that could increase employment opportunities for the growing region.
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ALMOST 100 call centre jobs would be relocated to Kingston under a plan by Kingborough’s mayor to increase employment opportunities in the region.
Kingborough Mayor Dean Winter said basing the Momentum Energy operations at the $300 million Kingston Park development would allow more residents to work locally, would benefit local businesses and would reduce traffic travelling to Hobart.
More than 80 per cent of Kingborough workers commute to Hobart, placing stress on arterial roads such as the Southern Outlet.
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State Energy Minister Guy Barnett said in March this year that work had commenced on relocating the company’s jobs to Tasmania.
Momentum Energy’s call centre operations are currently based in Melbourne despite being owned by Hydro Tasmania since 2009.
Mr Barnett said Hydro is seeking to identify a suitable Tasmanian location by March 2019.
He has asked Hydro to consider existing call centre infrastructure in Cambridge, Kingston and Launceston.
Cr Winter said Kingston Park would be an ideal spot.
“We have the land ready to develop, a skilled local workforce and the ambition to drive the revitalisation of our central business district,” he said.
“This could be the anchor tenant for Kingston Park, activating the site during the work day, with the benefits flowing on to local workers, retailers and suppliers.
“Given the State Government facilitated the move of 700 Vodafone jobs out of Kingborough and into the city, I think our area is very much due for some support.”
Cr Winter said Kingston businesses were still feeling the impact from the 2015 Vodafone move.
He said the Council had already met with the Co-ordinator-General to express its vision.
This week the Mercury revealed the push by an urban planner to move public service jobs to outer suburban growth areas to reduce congestion on Hobart’s roads.
Urban geographer and transport economist Bob Cotgrove said in the past 30 years three quarters of Hobart’s growth had been in the Kingborough, Sorell and Clarence municipalities, but jobs remained in the CBD.
He said the State Government should move middle- to low-function public services out of central Hobart.
Hydro chief executive Steve Davy said earlier this month the intention to end Momentum call centre operations in Victoria by the end of the current state government’s term.
He said the company is completing the initial planning phase.
jack.paynter@news.com.au
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