AFTER years of speculation, City of Newcastle has finally revealed that it has spent $17.6 million on its new leased administration premises at Stewart Avenue, Newcastle West.
After repeatedly refusing to make public the total spend on the leased premises, council issued a media release on Thursday detailing the cost.
According to the council, it has spent $8,389,994 on office space for 450 staff, $2,173,982 on establishing a Local Emergency Operations Centre, $3,267,465 on a new digital library and $1,041,824 on the new roll in, roll out council chamber.
Council also revealed it has paid the fit-out contractor, Graphite, $2,749,827 for contract administration of the project and associated costs including signage and flagpoles.
City of Newcastle chief executive officer Jeremy Bath referred publicly in late 2017 to the "one-off $7 million cost of the relocation", and it is understood councillors approved the move based on a business case which included that figure.
Mr Bath said on Thursday that the relocation was the first modernisation of the council in more than 40 years and had resulted in a better work environment, more efficient systems, greater flexibility and improved staff culture, providing an improved service for residents and ratepayers.
"Relocating our City Administration Centre to Newcastle West has provided our staff with a new fit-for-purpose office featuring modern amenities, a flexible design, community areas and meeting rooms to encourage better communication and collaborative decision-making," Mr Bath said.
The council confirmed in October last year that it would pay at least $35 million in rent over the next 15 years at the Stewart Ave building, a figure which rises to $40 million after taking into account inflation.
Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the relocation was in line with City of Newcastle's own long held plans, as well as NSW Government priorities to shift the CBD west as a catalytic site in the Greater Newcastle Metropolitan Plan.
"Four projects have been delivered as part of the move to 12 Stewart Avenue, including office space for our administrative staff, a brand new, state-of-the-art Digital Library, the new Council Chamber, and the purpose-built Local Emergency Operations Centre," Cr Nelmes said.
"This is designed to provide the best value to our residents and a seamless experience for all community members."
The figures do not include GST, but a council spokesman said they represented the "final cost" to ratepayers as local government organisations receive rebates for GST.
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