Dominic Perrottet & Brad Hazzard med rel – Public servants head to Hurstville

The NSW Government is delivering on its pledge to move public service jobs from the city to the suburbs and will relocate administrative offices of the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages to Hurstville.

Minister for Finance and Services Dominic Perrottet and Attorney General Brad Hazzard said the move made financial sense while ensuring that the Registry continued to provide convenient service to the community.

“In March the NSW Liberals & Nationals announced the relocation of more than 3000 public servants from the CBD to Western Sydney, and today’s announcement creates even more opportunities to develop local economies outside of the city centre,” Mr Perrottet said.

“The move of agencies away from the CBD means more opportunities for local residents who want to work closer to where they live.

“The relocation of backend offices makes a lot of sense as it provides greater savings for taxpayers without compromising service delivery.”

The Registry plans to relocate 140 back office staff to Hurstville in 2015. Registry customers needing face to face contact in the city can go to Service NSW offices located at Wynyard and at Rawson Place near Central from the end of 2014.

Attorney General Brad Hazzard said about 3000 marriage ceremonies were performed by Registry staff in the city each year – and couples would continue to have that option.

“The Registry is currently investigating a dedicated marriage room in the city to provide space for marriage ceremonies, and some of the options it is looking at would be great places to tie the knot,’’ Mr Hazzard said.

Member for Oatley Mark Coure welcomed the announcement which he said marked an important milestone in the Government’s decentralisation plans.

“Residents and small businesses understand better than anyone the benefits of having public servants leaving the CBD in favour of the suburbs,” Mr Coure said.

“Public servants will be using local suppliers, traders, retailers or eateries before and after work or during their lunch hours, which is good news for local businesses.”