Subi chambers earmarked for $20m revamp

A $20 million plan to rebuild the City of Subiaco’s council chambers on Rokeby Road is underway after a fire and other structural issues prompted the council to act.

The City of Subiaco council chambers and administration office on 241 Rokeby Road was recently damaged after a fire broke out in the server room in early September.

The city’s planning officers recommended that the council support a demolition and rebuild of the Rokeby Road facility, which is estimated to cost up to $20 million.

At a meeting last night, councillors approved for the city to continue planning for a demolition and rebuild of the chambers, with the chief executive to progress on preliminary design work.

However, councillors voted to hold the final decision on demolition until a design brief and project management plan are approved by the council.

The city’s deputy mayor Stephanie Stroud said the facility did not adequately accommodate functions expected of a council building in the 21^st century.

“This has been triggered by fire damage but it’s not just about the fire because we’ve also had flood episodes which has impacted on health and the risks for health from the mould damage,” she said.

“You could say the only water we’re containing is the rain that is leaking through the buildings.

“It is too small, for both administration and our civic responsibilities.”

The council report, prepared by the city’s planning officers, said the estimated cost range of $15 million to $20 million was appropriate to construct a 3,000 square metre building and a 28-bay basement carpark.

The existing Rokeby Road chambers features 12 car parking bays.

“These works are estimated to take between 24 and 36 months to complete once commissioned,” the report said.

The council report said the project might be funded by selling the former depot site on Upham Street, Jolimont.

“A development of this size would be a Tier 2 building,” Cr Mark Burns said.

“To even find a Tier 2 builder who’s even willing to take the project on at a fixed price could be all but impossible in this marketplace, and where I believe this marketplace will be next year.”

Despite Cr Burns’ concern, the majority of council supported the officer’s recommendation with Cr Rick Powell the only member voting against.

According to the council report, the city had engaged MJA Studio to prepare floor plans for the potential new build.