The state government's reorganisation of office leasing commitments could result in a duplication of Dumas House in West Perth and the creation of several department-specific government precincts in the CBD.
The state government's reorganisation of office leasing commitments could result in a duplication of Dumas House in West Perth and the creation of several department-specific government precincts in the CBD.
Commerce Minister Bill Marmion released a state government office accommodation discussion paper yesterday, which outlined a number of initiatives the state government could implement to save up to $25 million per year on office leasing by 2015.
The government currently spends $220 million each year on office leasing, and a further $30 million to $40 million on office fit-outs.
One of the key recommendations of the paper is to consolidate state government CBD and CBD fringe tenancies into fewer buildings and the creation of department-specific precincts.
Currently government office accommodation in the CBD and the CBD fringe is scattered across 96 buildings, involving 148 individual leases.
Under the master planned approach, 15 to 20 per cent of the state's current CBD office commitments would be relocated to suburban activity centres, with the remaining CBD accommodation consolidated into 15 to 20 leased or government-owned buildings.
Mr Marmion said the government had already added to its pre-commitment to lease 23,000 square metres of office space at one40william, by committing to lease the remaining 12,400sqm of office space in the tower and 2,200sqm in three restored heritage buildings that face Wellington Street.
One40william and Albert Facey House would then house government agencies that require direct public access to create a Perth central precinct, a 'one-stop-shop' service centre where the public could access a wide range of government sercives and information.
On the CBD fringe at Dumas House, the government plan proposes to construct two 10,000sqm metre buildings on the existing carpark to house the Premier and all Ministers and the Departments of the Premier and Cabinet and Treasury.
The executive government and central agency precinct would also include agencies that report directly to parliament, including the Public Sector Commission, Office of the Auditor General, Ombudsman, Office of the Information Commissioner, Office of the Inspector of Custodial Services and the State Records Commission.
The plan also recommends the establishment of a justice precinct at the Old Treasury Building redevelopment site on St Georges Terrace.
Negotiations between the state and the site's developer, the Mirvac/CBus consortium, and are focused on a redevelopment proposal that includes: reusing the existing heritage buildings as a high class hotel; a new office tower; and redevelopment of the adjacent Cathedral Square site to create public amenities, underground car-parking and further office accommodation.
The negotiations hinge, however, on the Mirvac/Cbus consortium reaching a commercial agreement with the current owners of Cathedral Square, Anglican Diocese and Public Trustee, and the City of Perth.
Also considered in the plan are uses for the state government's long-term lease on 24,000sqm of office space at Westralia Square on St Georges Terrace.
The government also holds a lease on approximately 11,000sqm of office space In the Atrium Building at 168 St Georges Terrace until 2020.
The plan recommends the establishment of a state development-focused St George's Terrace precinct, housing agencies with a focus on WA's economic development.