Prominent building firm Mossop Constructions and Interiors has won a $10m tender from Wattle Range Council to build the new Millicent office on a greenfield site on North Terrace.
Mayor Des Noll said it was a unanimous decision after an hour of debate during a confidential portion of a special council meeting on Tuesday night.
Chief executive Ben Gower has now been authorised to commence contract negotiations with the company and a start date was not yet known.
The building will occupy an area formerly housing netball and tennis courts and it has a total cost of $10,072,641, including furniture and fittings.
“I fully supported this decision and I have done so during its entire six-stage process,” Mayor Noll said.
“I know it is the correct decision and many community members across the Wattle Range Council area have enthusiastically endorsed it.
“When the construction of the new service centre is completed, we will have all administrative staff working out of the one facility.
“This will deliver efficiencies economically and provide functional, safe, fit for purpose facilities that will meet the changing needs of our diverse community and staff.
“It is an infrastructure build that will generate a range of local job opportunities
“Once completed, it will create a more professional workplace to retain and employ specialised, qualified staff within various career disciplines.
“This decision will generate a substantial economic benefit to our community.
“This decision has been a culmination of various stages over the last seven years.
“It will be the biggest infrastructure build the Wattle Range Council has engaged in over the past 25 years.”
The mayor declined to state the number of tenders which had been submitted.
The new office will replace the main office which dates back to its erection as a school in 1935 along with two other rented buildings which house administrative staff.
In dollar terms, the new council office will be the second- most expensive building project in Millicent’s history and only bettered by the $14m expansion of Boneham Aged Care Services in 2017.
Councillor Emma Castine was an apology from the meeting on Tuesday while Cr Dennis Muhovics declared a material conflict of interest and vacated the meeting chamber during the office tender discussions.
After the tender was decided, council held a workshop to continue its preparation for the 2024/25 budget.
Mossop Constructions and Interiors has an office in Mount Gambier and has worked extensively in this region.
Its local projects include the Timberlink Tarpeena Sawmill, Naracoorte Library and Tenison Woods College in Mount Gambier.
