Service NSW is looking to relocate to The Village Shopping Centre in Goonellabah with the development application (DA) submitted to Lismore City Council.

The plans to relocate to Goonellabah were revealed at the opening of the new Molesworth Street opening on July 5 this year.

Once Council approval has been confirmed, building should take between 12 and 18 months, weather permitting.

The $2.56 million building will be located behind Rivers and The Reject Shop. The entrance will face Simeoni Drive.

There are 16 proposed parking spaces, which will be accessed by turning left off Simeoni Drive. Two spaces will be for PWD parking.

The number of parking spaces for the entire Village Shopping complex is 262, 230 are for customers and 32 for staff.

The current building site has the capacity for 30 car parking spaces, so with 16 being allocated, there is a net loss of 14 car parking spaces.

TTM Consulting conducted a parking usage survey over seven days during different months over a two-year period (July 2022 to July 2024) and found that 29 out of the 30 car parking spaces to the north (the existing site) were not used, while 65 to 100 car parking spaces were available in the southern (or main) car park.

The conclusion was the development would not have an adverse effect on car parking in the overall Village Shopping complex.

When customers are leaving the new Service NSW Customer Service Centre, they will be turning left on to Simeoni Drive.

The roundabout upgrade at Simeoni Drive takes on more importance with this DA, especially with the proposed 130 placement Childcare Centre for the vacant block between The Village and Aldi.

It is anticipated that the new Service NSW Customer Service Centre will experience an additional 5 vehicles per hour for Simeoni Drive North and 4 per hour for Simeoni Drive South post development.

The conclusion is the development is not expected to have a significant impact on Simeoni Drive and its nearest intersections.

It is planned that the new Service NSW Customer Service Centre will accommodate driver testing and the full suite of government services and transactions. Currently, driver testing is being undertaken at the Lismore Golf Club in East Lismore.