By CASEY NEILL
A PACKED gallery witnessed the first official meeting in the new City of Greater Dandenong council chambers last Monday – and plenty of teething problems with the room’s new technology.
Councillors and officers were left voiceless as microphones dropped out during proceedings but a handheld microphone made its way around the desk until the state-of-the-art system found its feet.
It was a minor hiccup that failed to dampen the occasion a week after the council moved into the $65 million civic centre.
Past City of Springvale, City of Dandenong and City of Greater Dandenong councillors were among the gallery and Mayor Jim Memeti applauded their contribution to the city’s development.
“I am so proud of this wonderful new civic centre site,” he said.
Cr Memeti invited the public to the precinct’s official opening at 2pm on Saturday 12 April.
“We would love to see you all there,” he said.
“You’ll be in for a big surprise.”
Cr Peter Brown dubbed the expansive courtyard with big screen “Bennie’s back yard” with tongue firmly in cheek, but was brimming with pride at the landmark the council had created.
He said its excellent facilities, including “not so much a library but a learning centre”, would be an enduring legacy.
“And the people who’ll see the greatest benefit of our learning centre will be the people who have the least, not the most,” he said.
Cr John Kelly said staff brought together from the former Springvale and Dandenong council offices could now communicate face to face.
“The one thing that’s stood out for me are the smiles on the staff’s faces,” he said.
“It’s like they all started a new job but just happened to know everyone.”
At the meeting, councillors agreed to the first of eight retail leases for the new centre.
Café/restaurant Melissa Cakes will move in and open 7am to 11pm every day and has a five-year lease with the option of two five-year extensions.
The business, which has four other locations throughout Melbourne, will pay $63,000 a year plus GST to rent the space.
