JANUARY’S hailstorm may have been short and sharp, but its effect on one of Portland’s major buildings is going to last a lot longer.

Glenelg Shire Council has been forced into alternative arrangements after the storm extensively damaged its Cliff St offices.

At the time it was thought the damage might be repaired within a couple of months but the timeframe has blown out well past that, with staff forced into wither alternative offices (the main one being on Percy St at the site of the former library) or continuing to work from home.

Chief executive Greg Burgoyne said essentially the interior of the building – save (largely) for the chamber where council meetings are held – had sustained major damage after water entered through ceilings and underground pipes.

That included everything from floor coverings and office furniture to IT cabling, with the plumbing and electrical systems beyond repair.

“It’s been a struggle to dry the concrete floor out throughout the building,” Mr Burgoyne said.

Insurance assessors were still to complete their assessment of the damage.

“What we are confronting is that repair of the building will take potentially until December,” Mr Burgoyne said.

“We’re certainly working with the insurance company and contractors to start repairs and staff are in a variety of different locations around Portland.

“But it is business as usual for customer-facing services.”

Mr Burgoyne paid tribute to staff for adapting – instead of, like many others, facing a return to the office after nearly two years of coronavirus pandemic restrictions they were likely to remain outside it for another 12 months.

“(They) have been fantastic,” he said.

The council would look to give the building its first major facelift since construction in 1984.

“We’ll take the opportunity to do what we need to do looking at improved technology and making sure the customer experience is improved,” Mr Burgoyne said.

That included wi-fi connectivity throughout, energy-efficient lighting and collaborative workspaces.

“What we’ve learned through COVID is to have a dispersed workforce so we don’t run the risk (of an outbreaking leaving the council unable to provide services).”

There will be one another change for the rest of the year too – the location of the monthly council meeting.

So far in January and February these have been closed to the public and held online, as was the case at times during the pandemic restrictions.

However, with the public now able to attend, and the chamber unable to be used despite being largely undamaged, alternatives have had to be considered – and there are likely to be road trips.

Next month’s meeting is scheduled to be held in Casterton – as voted on in November – but the council would look to hold future ones at either the Portland Civic Hall supper room or in Heywood (where the September meeting is scheduled to be held anyway).