The state government is refusing to answer questions regarding how many jobs will be brought from Melbourne to the Ballarat GovHub, how many people will work from the new building, and when the building will open.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The building is expected to open this month, but construction work is still ongoing, and an opening date has not yet been set.
VicRoads has previously confirmed its customer service operations will begin on May 10.
A full roster of who will be working in-person at the building was not provided - several government agencies, including Regional Development Victoria, VicRoads, the State Revenue Office, the Department of Education and Training, Consumer Affairs Victoria and the Department of Justice, and Service Victoria will have staff operating from GovHub.
The Courier attempted to contact each of the agencies to find out how many staff will move in - while VicRoads has confirmed its staff numbers and opening date, only Consumer Affairs and the Department of Justice responded.
The state government has consistently said "(t)he Ballarat GovHub will be home to up to 1000 Victorian Government employees, including up to 600 public sector positions relocated from Melbourne".
Officially, The Courier has so far worked out about half, with about 150 new jobs created and more than 80 workers moving from Melbourne.
About 80 VicRoads staff from its Melbourne office will move to Ballarat, joining 140 others from the Wendouree office.
A Consumer Affairs Victoria spokesperson said in a statement more than 100 staff are already working at a Camp Street office, and most will soon move to GovHub "in the coming months".
"Consumer Affairs Victoria's contact centre and complaint resolution services will be based in the building, along with the Working With Children Check team," they said.
"Consumer Affairs Victoria has been working from the Staging Post since July 2019 and, during that time, has created over 90 Ballarat-based jobs."
The Camp Street office will become a "Justice Service Centre" before the end of the year, with several other functions.
The Department of Education and Training did not respond to a request for comment - in January, a spokesperson said in a statement 65 public sector positions will "relocate" to GovHub, and "(m)any of these roles will be vacant upon relocation and it is anticipated they will be filled by locals in Ballarat".
"The Department's existing regional office in Ballarat will remain with staff based at this office not relocating to GovHub," they added.
The State Revenue Office did not respond to a request for comment, but it's understood staff from Mount Helen will move to GovHub.
Service Victoria did not respond to a request for comment.
IN THE NEWS
A Regional Development Victoria spokesperson said in a statement "(p)rogress on construction of Ballarat's landmark $100 million GovHub remains on schedule to be completed this month and is anticipated to be ready for tenancy soon, subject to the relevant Victorian Government advice at the time".
Claims workers could be forced to "hot-desk" in the new building were not addressed.
Promotional videos from construction firm Kane-Nicholson show open plan office floors, with lockers for workers' belongings - the state government has maintained the building's "fit out and usage will comply" with density limits and COVIDSafe Plan requirements, as well as the Chief Health Officer's workplace directions.
Have you signed up to The Courier's variety of news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in Ballarat.
