Just over a month after its official opening, the Shellharbour Civic Centre will actually be open from Thursday morning.
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The $60 million council headquarters has become one of the most controversial buildings in the Illawarra in recent years, and has been subject to years of protests and even debate on the floor of parliament.
Fronted by an expansive plaza filled with trees and public art, a multi-storey office block now houses council staff, while the public areas include a library, museum and cafe.
Also on the ground floor, there is a 350 seat auditorium designed for public events and the council’s customer service hub.
Thursday’s opening will be the first chance for the wider public to inspect the building, which the council’s general manager Carey McIntyre hopes will change people’s minds.
Last September, when some of the public spaces were unveiled, Mr McIntyre said he thought the building “speaks for itself” and would be a culmination of a 30 plan to give Shellharbour a dedicated city centre.