East Street link to Rockhampton Museum of Art: Temporary bracing in place

Rockhampton Regional Council has revealed work on the pedestrian walkway between East Street and the CBD’s new Museum of Art is “ongoing and complicated” amid claims demolition has caused damage to nearby buildings. Full details here.

Work on the walkway between East Street and the new Rockhampton Museum of Art appears to have come to a temporary standstill as a 3D scan is undertaken to assess the structural integrity of the surrounding buildings.

Rockhampton company BT Builders was awarded a $591,000 tender in November 2021 to demolish the East Street buildings and open up the pedestrian walkway.

East Street walkway, taken from East Street in June 2022.

East Street walkway from Quay Lane, taken in June 2022.

The plans by Rockhampton Regional Council had originally kept the historic facade of the former buildings but after an inspection of their structures, it was determined they would need to be fully demolished.

The building at 115 East Street dated back to the early 1900s and the 119 East Street building was constructed around the 1950s, but neither were on the heritage register.

According to a council report dated in May and presented to council this week, a 3D scan is being undertaken of the site and it is proposed to have the project engineer design silhouette structural steel for the space.

A previous report stated the exterior of the brick wall abutting 121 East Street had been battened and cladded and the current building support structures (braces and stays) had been designed by the project engineer however are temporary in nature.

Cracks can be seen through the temporary fencing on the side of the building.

Rockhampton Regional Council told this publication the works were “ongoing and complicated”.

“Council continues to improve the amenity of the area, however is limited by the temporary bracing system,” a RRC spokesperson said.

“The temporary bracing is there to support the building next door to the link.

“Until the owner of the building advises council how they would like to proceed with the building, the temporary bracing is required to be in place for safety reasons.”

This publication spoke with Michael Specktor, on behalf of the National Retail Group which owns the former Chemist Warehouse building that is being supported by the braces and stays.

Large cracks can be seen in the wall of the former Chemist Warehouse building.

Chemist Warehouse was tenants of the building.

Mr Specktor claimed works on the walkway had contributed to cracking in the wall of the side of the building and exacerbated the age and condition of the building.

“We want to work with council to provide a community benefit and the best possible solution for the East Street link,” he said.

A large crack running down the side of the neighbouring building.

In another part of the project, work may soon begin on pavement to cross over Quay Lane from the walkway.

“We have completed a design and will now concentrate on delivering a paved threshold in Quay Lane at the back of RMOA to improve pedestrian access in the precinct,” a RRC spokesperson said.