Victorian-based Indigo Shire Council will redesign and reconstruct its major offices with environmentally sustainable solutions.

The project to rebuild the council’s office in Yackandandah and an extension at Beechworth received $2.13 million as a grant from the Victorian Government.

Mayor Larry Goldsworthy said the state government grant means the council will only need to borrow up to $2.5 million for the office accommodation project.

“The projects at both sites are planned to incorporate a range of environmentally sustainable design initiatives,” Mr Goldsworthy said.

These initiatives include energy efficient light fittings, appliances and appropriate passive design principles to minimise the need for active heating and cooling, he said.

He said this will include high levels of insulation, window shading elements to control sun exposure and solar control glazing.

“There will also be significant natural daylight to minimise the need for artificial lighting, north facing roofs to allow potential installation of photo voltaic solar cells, solar hot water system, and roof level ventilation to encourage ‘night purging’ and to optimise air quality,” Mr Goldsworthy said.

All timber will come from renewable sources, with storm water to be re-used for irrigation and toilet amenities, he said.

Wodonga-based architectural practice, Jovaras Westland Partnership was appointed to design the council buildings

Mr Goldsworthy said the Jovaras Westland’s expression of interest proposal for designing the office won on merit from a range of expressions of interest received from regional and metropolitan firms.

“The added benefit, from Council’s perspective, is that the design work has gone to Indigo residents,” Mr Goldsworthy said.

He said the initial design concept is currently being developed further, which will be made public in the next few weeks.

According to the council, construction work for the office involves demolishing the current front office in Yackandandah and one building in Wellsford Street as well as ‘The Shed’ meeting room.

The new office will be constructed on the site and refurbishing the heritage-listed Ardsville site fronting High Street.

Existing office space in Beechworth will be extended behind the Memorial Hall.

Mr Goldsworthy said the design work is expected to be completed by July this year, follow by construction concluding by about June 2013.