Council reaffirms site for Maryborough Admin centre

The new Fraser Coast Regional Council Maryborough administration and library will be built very close to its former building in Kent Street.

At its meeting yesterday (Wednesday, August 25), Council confirmed it will continue with developing plans for the site.

Under the proposal adopted at the meeting, the building would sit further to the rear of the site to retain as much as possible of the new green space that was created after the former building was demolished. The new building would be built over the existing car park.

It would be elevated above the Q100 flood level, with car parking underneath.

“Council put the development on hold as it evaluated proposals from landowners to build an admin centre for us on other properties within the CBD,” Councillor Paul Truscott said.

“After evaluating eight proposals, we have decided to continue with the redevelopment of our existing site on the corner of Lennox and Kent streets.”

The new building will accommodate Council’s customer service centre, financial and administrative functions, and a new Maryborough Library.

Subject to the outcome of negotiations with the Queensland Government, the site will have room to accommodate Queensland Government staff under a lease arrangement, if required.

The former administration centre was demolished following a structural engineering assessment which determined it had reached the end of its working life.

“Council has always wanted to maintain a presence in the Maryborough CBD and this decision reaffirms this position,” Cr Daniel Sanderson said.

“An administration building in the CBD is easily accessible for residents to conduct business with Council and the staff presence is an economic boost for CBD traders.”

Council has explored all the options and has now determined that the best way forward is to rebuild on the Kent Street site, Cr Truscott said.

“Developing a new administration centre is a once in a generation change, and a legacy for this Council so we want to get it right,” he said.