Government departments: a missing piece in the revitalisation puzzle
Published on 12 March 2021
Frankston City Council is dedicated to economic prosperity particularly through attracting both businesses and potentially the relocation of Government departments to the municipality.
Councillors recently voted unanimously to write to the State Member for Frankston, Paul Edbrooke MP, the Federal Member for Dunkley, Peta Murphy and Liberal Senator for Victoria, David Van, to open discussions about strategies to bring or relocate Government departments to Frankston City.
South Ward Cr Brad Hill said he is passionate about building our local economy and believes attracting Government departments will have huge positive benefits for local businesses and help create more local jobs.
Cr Hill said Frankston Council’s previous advocacy saw South East Water and over 600 employees relocate to Frankston City in 2015 with an estimated annual economic benefit of $850 million to our municipality.
“The relocation of South East Water to Frankston has given Frankston City a huge economic boost and we’re keen to build on this by exploring the possibility of Government departments relocating to Frankston.
“Frankston is one of nine Metropolitan Activity Centres in Melbourne and should therefore be earmarked for future opportunities.
“Council has completed major projects to revitalise our city centre and support local business, including significant upgrades to the Clyde St and Station St Malls in central Frankston and we’re determined to keep working tirelessly to help drive economic growth and employment in Frankston City,” Cr Hill said.
Council’s $1.07 million Clyde St Mall works included contributions of $50,000 (Vicinity Centres) and $230,000 (developer contribution). Council’s major $2.27 million Station St Mall stage one and stage two works included contributions of $360,000 (State Government) and $100,000 (Vicinity Centres).
Council Manager Policy, Planning and Environmental Strategies, Suzane Becker, said the Council’s Investment Attraction Program – run as part of the Invest Frankston campaign – has been a great success in recent years.
“Since Invest Frankston was relaunched in June 2019 there have been over 130 investment leads generated, primarily through proactive activity. Notable businesses that have moved to Frankston – facilitated by our Invest Frankston Team – include The Hop Shop and General Public in Playne St and Burger Love in Thompson St.
“The Invest Frankston Team have also facilitated enquiries from land owners and property developers, including some significant planned office developments. It is estimated that the current pipeline of investment enquiries has the potential to generate up to $800 million in construction activity and over 1000 new jobs.
“Council has developed a prospectus aimed at proactively attracting office-based businesses and workers. Frankston has the potential to be a major decentralised office hub for South East Melbourne, but attraction of additional Government tenants holds the key to making this happen,” Ms Becker said.
Cr Hill added: “I acknowledge that both the State and Federal Governments have delivered some fantastic and much-needed major projects, which have significantly helped to revitalise our city. However, it’s crucial that we focus our attention on how we can support these efforts and create more local jobs.
“Box Hill and Dandenong are great examples of other Metropolitan Activity Centres that have prospered as a result of significant State and Federal Government investment in office spaces – and I believe Frankston deserves the same level of attention,” Cr Hill said.
Frankston is home to over 55,000 square metres of centrally located prime office space – much of which can be custom fitted to suit the needs of any Government department. As a hub for skilled workers and professionals, Government departments will also have access to workforce of nearly 60,000.
Cr Hill said: “Frankston has significant capacity to accommodate large Government and private sector office requirements. It has over 14,000 square metres of permitted additional Grade A office space with further developments planned. There are also a number of developer-backed sites in the city centre that that could accommodate major bespoke office requirements.
“The number of skilled professionals commuting from the Mornington Peninsula and other South Eastern suburbs to central Melbourne is climbing. But it doesn't have to. Frankston can provide a more attractive opportunity for these workers, halving for many their daily commute.
“As a result of COVID-19 we’re also seeing many families and individuals looking to move further out of the city in search of a greater work-life balance. In my opinion, that’s exactly what Frankston can offer. We just need the jobs to draw the people,” Cr Hill said.
State Member for Frankston, Paul Edbrooke MP, said he agrees that Frankston is an ideal location for a relocated Government department, especially with the level of investment that has occurred in recent years in line with the Frankston Revitalisation Board’s shared vision for Frankston.
“I’m inspired to receive this correspondence indicating an appetite within Council to attract jobs to Frankston’s Major Activity Centre.
“I have been actively advocating for many years to relocate a Government department to Frankston and believe this would be a fantastic opportunity to increase local employment for Frankston.
“I am in discussions with various agencies and departments concerning opportunities which will both benefit our community and employers,” Mr Edbrooke said.
Mr Edbrooke added: “I look forward to continuing this discussion to provide even more job opportunities and a boost to the local economy through the possibilities of decentralising Government departments to our wonderful city.”