PLANS for 500 public service jobs in Liverpool are now one step closer following the end of the expressions of interest period.
Once the plans are complete, it will mean an annual $5 million injection into the Liverpool economy.
Today the Member for Menai, Melanie Gibbons, joined the Minister for Finance and Services, Dominic Perrottet, in welcoming the strong response the NSW Government received for the EOI process to find suitable office space for the public servants who will be relocated to Western Sydney, particularly within Liverpool.
“In May, we issued expressions of interest for around 5,000 square metres of accommodation to house over 500 public servants across several agencies,” Mr Perrottet said.
“There was a strong response from the market, with around 20 prospective bidders lodging formal expressions and we will consider all options before making a decision.’’
Ms Gibbons said that this is a great opportunity for the Liverpool area: “By relocating public servants to Liverpool we are able to bring added business and opportunity directly to the Liverpool community. This will bring a massive benefit for the local economy and in particular our local businesses and retailers.”
Adding to this, Mr Perrottet said that this move is effectively injecting on average more than $5 million per year into the cash-registers of retailers and small businesses across Liverpool.
“A recent study released by found that the average office worker spends $209 per week in retail shops during their working week – with $76 per week being spent on food and beverage items,’’ the minister said.
“Over the coming years, as many as 3,000 public servants will relocate from the CBD to office accommodation in western Sydney. The relocation of government offices also means more opportunities for local residents to work closer to home.”
Mr Perrottet said the NSW Government was intent on reducing the costs of government: “Our government made a commitment to reduce unnecessary spending and waste and we are delivering on this promise by reducing rental costs across the public sector. Last year the government and taxpayers paid around $142 million per annum in rent for public servants to be based in the Sydney CBD.
“We have set an ambitious target to reduce CBD office leases by 100,000 square metres or around 25 per cent by 2021 and relocating staff to Liverpool and Penrith will help to achieve this target.”
