Construction of new facilities at Agriculture WA's Narrogin office under way

6/11/97

Primary Industry Minister Monty House said work was under way to construct new facilities at Agriculture Western Australia's Narrogin district office to ensure agriculture in the region was well-served into the next century.

Mr House said a $1.65 million building contract had been awarded to Best Constructions to complete the capital works by May next year.

Total cost of the project was about $2 million and included the refurbishment, additions and alterations, office space for 35 staff, a new reception and display area, laboratories, conference room, workshops and storage areas.

Mr House said Agriculture Western Australia's Narrogin office was the base for a wide range of agricultural support services to the region's sheep and wool industries, general mixed farming enterprises and cereals, pulses and canola industries.

"Revegetation activities in the medium-to-low rainfall areas are likely to be co-ordinated from the Narrogin office and there is potential for the site to become a major landcare centre to support the Central and South-West regions," he said.

"Key agricultural protection activities carried out by Agriculture Western Australia such as surveillance and monitoring, and declared plant and animal control, are also managed from Narrogin."

Mr House said the existing administration building in Narrogin was opened in 1967 with 11 offices.

An old house and other buildings on the site had been converted into offices to accommodate the 24 staff in relatively cramped conditions. The site had also been extended in recent years through the acquisition of the former Salvation Army hall.

"A new two-storey office building will be constructed alongside the existing administration building," Mr House said.

"The existing building will be remodelled to create a new reception area, client information and display area and staff amenities room.

"The hall will be refurbished to provide meeting and conference facilities and a shed to the east of the main building will be fitted out to include two new laboratories, a post mortem room, veterinary laboratory and general storage area.

"A small brick addition to the shed will accommodate a chemical store and workshop."

Mr House said staff at the Narrogin district office had considerable input into the design of the new office buildings. There had also been ongoing liaison with the Town of Narrogin.

Media contact: Nicole Trigwell (08) 9481 2044