Fire hub halts City’s plans for relocation

The City of Albany’s failed bid for the $18 million WA Bushfire Centre of Excellencehas dealt a blow to its plans to move its administration offices from Yakamia to the CBD.

The City had proposed to sell its $5.7 million administration building on North Road to the State Government so it could be used for the bushfire hub.

With that no longer an option, the City’s plans to move to the CBD are all but out of the window, according to Mayor Dennis Wellington.

“That proposal is now very unlikely to happen,” he said. “The admin building is a purpose-built building and we will be staying there for the foreseeable future.”

Albany MLA Peter Watson said the city had missed out on the hub because of its isolated location.

“I never actually thought we would get it because of where Albany is at,” he said.

“We’re right down at the bottom of the State and it’s a Statewide facility — that’s just the way it is.”

Premier Mark McGowan revealed on Friday the bushfire hub would be built in the Shire of Murray.

Regional Development Minister Alannah MacTiernan said the decision was the most logical option for the State.