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Former Moe Hospital to be Telstra Call Centre site

The former Moe Hospital site has been chosen to house the 270 seat Telstra Call Centre

By Latrobe City Council - 20th June 2001 - Back to News

The former Moe Hospital site has been chosen to house the 270 seat Telstra Call Centre, ending months of speculation over the possible location. Alternative sites in Morwell and Traralgon had also been shortlisted by Telstra since the announcement that Latrobe had won the Call Centre in March this Year. The Centre will house Call Centre components of the Telstra On Air Mobiles Business Unit.

One wing of the former hospital will be totally remodeled to accommodate the development, with work expected to begin almost immediately. Staff recruitment is anticipated to begin in September, with staff training at the new facility commencing on 22 October. The new facility is expected to go on-line on 12 November.

Latrobe City Mayor, Councillor Brendan Jenkins, congratulated the LV Village Committee of Management on the preparation of their bid, saying the development ensured a new future for the former Moe Hospital.

"The formula used in attracting the Telstra Call Centre to Moe has substantially been the same as the business attraction formula used in attracting Centrelink to Traralgon a few years ago, and represents the most important employment development for the Moe and Newborough area since the construction of the Yallourn "W" power station in the early 1970s.

"There will be massive benefits for Latrobe citizens whether they come from Moe, Morwell or Traralgon. There are not just benefits for those directly employed as staff in the new Call Centre, but there will be a substantial number of businesses throughout Latrobe and individual citizens that will benefit from providing the additional services required, such as in maintenance, cleaning, and office stationery," Cr Jenkins said.

"Above all else, we were delighted that Latrobe was chosen for the Call Centre. The decision as to where in Latrobe the Call Centre would be located however, was always going to be up to Telstra and they have now made their decision.

Latrobe City’s Acting Chief Executive Officer, Paul Buckley, said Latrobe was pleased to welcome another major corporate citizen to the municipality which would provide further diversification to the employment base within the region.

"This clearly demonstrates Latrobe’s ability to meet the employment needs of major corporations, by furnishing a capable, skilled, committed and adaptable workforce who can deliver," Mr Buckley said.

Cr Jenkins said it should not be forgotten that Telstra’s decision to place the Call Centre in Latrobe was the outcome of almost twelve months of intense negotiations between Telstra and the Council and was the direct result of massive teamwork.

"Our Economic Development Unit, the former CEO Penny Holloway, and our former Mayor, Cr Tony Hanning, should all be acknowledged for their role in fighting for Latrobe to be the venue, and for the hard work they put into convincing Telstra that Latrobe had the people and commitment to deliver the goods," Cr Jenkins said.

"Today’s announcement is also a tribute to Councillor Graeme Middlemiss who represented Council at an initial meeting with Telstra in April last year, to determine Telstra’s needs with regard to Call Centres.

"Cr Middlemiss briefed Council on the best possible way to attract a Call Centre, outlining the details and contingencies required to mount a successful bid, and following his advice we submitted a first class proposal," Cr Jenkins said.

Councillor Tony Zimora said the Telstra Call Centre would still only use a small amount of the infrastructure at the former Moe Hospital. "While Telstra is an important anchor tenant, there is the potential here for more businesses to establish themselves at Moe, and for additional business activity in the Moe-Newborough area," Cr Zimora said.

Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: latrobecity@gippslander.com

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