A search for a large chunk of modern office space at Dubbo to accommodate state government workers has been shelved.
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Property NSW confirmed the process of finding a long-term lease on about 3000 square metres to be available from mid-2021 had been "put on hold".
A spokesperson said it was because of "a change in government requirements for office space at Dubbo", but offered assurances the government remained "committed to establishing a hub" in Dubbo.
Property NSW had called for expressions of interest (EOI) in May last year, advertising in national media and on its online tendering site.
It was for an initial lease term of 10 years, with the modern office space sought equivalent in size to about 11 tennis courts.
In August, the department reported it received "strong interest from the market", but declined to say how many EOI were submitted, citing commercial-in-confidence.
By September the department reported the EOI stage had been completed, with shortlisted proponents determined and invited to participate in the second, more detailed phase of the process.
The next stage was scheduled to start in the fourth quarter of 2019, a spokesperson said then.
When the Daily Liberal recently asked what progress had been made and if the tender had been awarded, the department revealed a project twist.
"The Dubbo accommodation search process has recently been put on hold due to a change in government requirements for office space in Dubbo," a Property NSW spokesperson said.
"It is expected that the revised requirements will be advised toward the end of quarter one 2020."
The Daily Liberal had also questioned the department about the project's expected completion date, and it appeared to be up in the air.
"The timing of this project will be dependent on the revised requirements," the Property NSW spokesperson said.
"The NSW government remains committed to establishing a hub in Dubbo."
Faye Wheeler
I have been a journalist for more than a decade and in that time I have been keeping Daily Liberal readers up to date about issues affecting them and what's happening in their community. Throughout my career I have covered a range of rounds and most recently I have been focusing on the business round.
I have been a journalist for more than a decade and in that time I have been keeping Daily Liberal readers up to date about issues affecting them and what's happening in their community. Throughout my career I have covered a range of rounds and most recently I have been focusing on the business round.
