Harvey Shire to investigate potential of temporary repurpose of Harvey or Australind chambers for office space

The Shire of Harvey is set to investigate converting one of its two council chambers into office space for its staff amid a lack of options.

Officers will report back to the new council in November on potentially using the Harvey or Australind council meeting spaces for additional offices.

The proposal was moved as an elected member’s motion by Cr Paul Beech, who said it came about after he heard of a plan to make minor changes the Australind chamber to allow for extra office space.

“I thought ‘well, perhaps you could go a little bit further than that’,” he said.

“It would be a difficult decision for staff to bring it to the council to say ‘look, we want to use (the Australind) chamber for offices or the Harvey chamber for offices’ because of the political consequences and the fallout from that, so I thought I’d just throw this on the table,” he said.

Cr Beech said the council had the luxury of having two chambers.

“In theory (they) only get used six months of the year for three weeks of each month,” he said.

In response to questions from Cr John Bromham, chief executive Annie Riordan said there was recently a council report looking at alleviating the lack of office space the Shire had in Australind.

“We have been considering leased premises, the availability of transport accommodation or making modifications to the Australind Council Chambers, because this is where the most need is for office accommodation,” she said.

“Cr Beech’s motion will progress those discussions that we’re having in regards to potential plans for the Australind chamber.”

An expansion to the council’s Australind offices were completed in 2015, with extensions to the original office space and a new council chamber being added.

Despite the double in floor space, the building has struggled to keep up with demand.

The Shire currently leasing office space within nearby Mulgara House to accommodate staff working in Australind.