A PURPOSE built National Archives facility in the ACT would not impact Goulburn's chances of securing an archives storage in the City, general manager Warwick Bennett says.
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An article published by the Canberra Weekly reported the Mitchell development, announced on February 26, was a joint project between Doma Group developers and National Archives of Australia.
The building, due for completion in 2017, will be leased on a 30-year contract and hold the equivalent of 25 per cent of the Archives' current collection.
Still, discussions for Goulburn obtaining a slice of the archive pie is still well underway.
It’s been on the table for some three years.
"They always had two types of facilities they were planning," Mr Bennett explained.
"The Mitchell one has always been on the cards. That facility is high security with archival facilities and archival records that need to be in a highly monitored environment.
"Whereas there will be a general archival storage facility and that's the one we still continue to discuss with the National Archives."
Mr Bennett said discussions were going well with a meeting to be held next week.
"They are currently preparing a business plan and when we see that business plan we are hoping that it will focus on Goulburn being their number one site."
In June 2013, Laterals Projects and Developments Engineer Katherine Armstrong labelled Goulburn as a “prime location” for a preservation facility.
“The case for Goulburn as a storage precinct becomes even more compelling when one adds to the mix Goulburn’s prime location between Sydney and Canberra,” Ms Armstrong told Council’s Economic Development Committee at the time.
“It’s excellent road, air and rail links, its lack of congestion, low humidity decreasing utility costs compared to Sydney and Canberra, the availability of existing and potential storage sites, the skilled workforce, and finally its desirability as a place to work and live.”
A business case prepared by Laterals Planning in 2013 estimated a facility cost of $48.6m, significantly less than the development in Sydney or Canberra. Flow on industrial effects could lead to some 140 jobs.
