LIKE the region itself, the Casey Cardinia Business Hub has grown.
Casey mayor Sam Aziz officially opened the hub’s second phase – a complex with 150 working desks and 40 office spaces at 66 Victor Crescent in Narre Warren on Friday.
Cr Aziz said developments like the hub – a partnership between the City of Casey and the Waterman Group – were critical to promoting innovation and economic growth in the region.
“Seven out of 10 residents leave Casey to go to work,” Cr Aziz said.
“For us, this is unacceptable. We need to provide employment opportunities closer to home.”
Cr Aziz has personal experience of the frustration experienced by commuters.
He said the daily Monash grind forced him to give up his career in the Customs Department to find work closer to home.
“Casey has a population of 300,000 people and it is growing by 10,000 every year, so it doesn’t take a mathematical genius to work out that there will be a population of half a million people in 20 years’ time,” he said.
“Employment aspirations in the City of Casey are very real.”
Cr Aziz paid tribute to Neville Waterman of the Waterman Group for his vision.
“It is inspirational to work with someone like Neville, who thinks outside the square and delivers outcomes for the City of Casey.”
Mr Waterman said he loved working with small businesspeople, who regularly inspired him by sharing their dreams.
With tongue in cheek, he suggested the space – next to the original building at 64 Victor Crescent – be renamed The Dream Centre.
