If a Service NSW Centre in Finley creates just one additional job, it will be a welcome addition to the town, says Berrigan Council Mayor Matthew Hannan.
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The town is among 24 regional and rural NSW locations to receive a Service Centre within the next 18 months.
The initiative was established in 2013 to consolidate a range of government services, and a further $20 million has been committed to expand the roll-out in regional and rural areas.
A Service NSW spokeswoman said a location for the centre was yet to be confirmed.
“Service NSW will visit the Finley region before the end of this year,” she said.
“An assessment of (location) options in the Finley area will occur in the first quarter of next year.”
At Albury, the Australian Taxation Office headquarters was chosen as a location for the Service NSW Centre and it was opened in 2015.
The integration of the centre created six jobs.
In Finley, National Parks and Wildlife Services, Department of Housing, Fisheries and Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages services are provided through the Government Access Centre at 4 Howe Street, among others.
The Service NSW spokeswoman said Government Access Centre transactions currently undertaken by motor registry staff would be available at the new Service Centre.
“The Finley Service Centre will offer much more than just roads and maritime services – customers will also be able to access more than 1000 services from 50 different government departments,” she said.
“The centre is set to open mid 2018; as such recruitment has not commenced at this stage.”
Mr Hannan said the plans were welcome, as there had been proposals in previous years for RMS services to be moved to Deniliquin.
“It keeps RMS in our community – a lot of people register their vehicles in Finley and they won’t have to travel distances to access services,” he said.
“I look forward to having the conversation to see what services they are going to provide.”
