THE Department of Education and Early Childhood Development’s western region office is set to move into Whitten Oval’s John Gent stand in coming months.

The education department will move about 50 staff from its current office in Parkville to temporarily set up shop at Whitten Oval as it waits for permanent office space to be built in Footscray’s CBD as part of the transit city project.

The department is expected to use the top floor of Victoria University’s teaching, training and learning centre for the next two years.

Victoria University vice-chancellor Elizabeth Harman said the university was “not quite ready” to take over both floors next year.

“It makes sense for us, until we’re ready in the next couple of years to use that space most effectively, and until they’re permanent space in Footscray transit city development is built, why don’t we make a win-win-win development for everybody?”

The office serves the local government areas of Maribyrnong, Brimbank, Hobsons Bay, Wyndham, Moonee Valley Melton and Melbourne.

A department spokesperson said the move would bring the office closer to the heartland of the Western Metropolitan Region.

Maribyrnong City Council has opposed the move, saying it could cause “significant parking and traffic pressures in and around the oval”.