Mike Kelly (Eden-Monaro, Australian Labor Party, Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Support) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Works Committee Act 1969, the following proposed work be referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works for consideration and report: Refit and refurbishment of Tuggeranong Office Park, Canberra, ACT.

The Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs proposes to undertake a fit-out of Tuggeranong Office Park at a cost of $29.872 million, including GST. Tuggeranong Office Park is located at block 2, section 14 in the division of Greenway, in the district of Tuggeranong, in the Australian Capital Territory. The national office component of the department is currently spread over 10 tenancies, with a total net lettable area of approximately 46,000 square metres. The TOP complex is 18 years old and has not been substantially refurbished or refitted since its construction was finalised in 1991.

Works are required to improve compliance of the office accommodation to current Commonwealth standards. The refurbishment and fit-out of TOP will provide a significantly improved level of accommodation and allow the consolidation of FaHCSIA’s property portfolio. TOP provides approximately 33,000 square metres of office space, 2,800 square metres of storage space, 760 enclosed and open car parks and ground-level bicycle parking for 150 bikes. TOP also accommodates the Canberra data centre, which is considered critical national infrastructure.

The works have been scoped to provide a modest-level fit-out that reflects the remaining term of lease to December 2016. This work will ensure that FaHCSIA provides good quality office accommodation and meets its legislative obligations to provide a safe and secure workplace. Subject to parliamentary approval, the program of works is anticipated to commence in September 2009, with a completion date for all works of September 2010. I commend the motion to the House.

Question agreed to.