A new City of Whittlesea council hub will be established in Whittlesea, giving greater access for residents to connect with several community services and council.
The hub will open in the former Westpac bank site in Church Street later this year – allowing residents to connect with council closer to home, rather than having to travel to the council office in South Morang.
Council customer service staff will be able to take cashless payments and conduct other services.
Chair administrator Lydia Wilson said council had supported the initiative to ensure residents in the northern part of the municipality did not have to drive to South Morang for council business.
“This hub will bring more of our services out to the farthest region of our municipality,” she said.
“We’re committed to making things easier for our residents to conduct business with us in-person as well as improving our digital offerings.
“We’re working through the detail of the range of services that we can offer from the centre and will update the community closer to the opening.”
While council is working on further details for the hub, residents can contact council via its website at www.whittlesea.vic.gov.au, by emailing info@whittlesea.vic.gov.au, or by calling 9217 2170.
Residents can also drop in to 25 Ferres Boulevard, South Morang for further information.
Westpac closed the branch on September 19 last year, citing a lack of customers requiring in-branch banking.
At the time, Westpac spokesperson said the closure of the Church Street premises would ‘complement how customers choose to bank’ and that the bank would expand its services to access via Bank@Post, telephone, mobile and virtual banking.
Following Westpac’s departure, Whittlesea Community House were given use of the building rent-free a month from owners Bryan and Miriam Matthews.
The pop-up drop-in facility was used to address specific issues that relate to community members experiencing isolation, homelessness and well-being support.
Services such as online banking, scam awareness and upcoming community events and courses were offered at the pop-up facility.
