Keppel Bay Sailing Club Convention Centre project: Demolition to begin
A final hurrah has been held at the Keppel Bay Sailing Club, as work is set to begin in coming weeks for the new 1000-seat convention centre.
Rockhampton
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A last hurrah was held at the Keppel Bay Sailing Club clubhouse on Sunday, with the building to soon be demolished to make way for a $20 million convention centre.
The beachfront building on Yeppoon’s Main Beach went out with a bang with live music and sailing training and club championships.
The Keppel Bay Sailing Club and Convention Centre has been touted for years and got a cash injection in 2021 when Capricornia MP Michelle Landry secured $20 million in funding under the Community Development Grants Programme.
A development application was submitted by Gideon Town Planning to Livingstone Shire Council in August last year with a proposal to redevelop the site, including demolishing the existing two-storey clubhouse and constructing a modern club and function facility.
The new building will be a three-storey clubhouse with a gross floor area of 1911sq m.
The ground level will include the sailors’ room, training facilities, amenities, regatta office and boat storage.
Levels one and two overlook the Keppel Bay and islands and the first level will have the reception, main bar, commercial kitchen and coldrooms, bistro, deck, whiskey bar, conference room and amenities.
Level two will have a function room, observation room, administration, amenities, external decks and storerooms.
The application was approved by the council on December 15.
Tenders for the demolition closed at the end of last year with a builder yet to be revealed.
Well-respected Yeppoon-based architect Brian Hooper has been appointed as the project manager for the development.
Keppel Bay Sailing Club general manager Mal Cochrane said the new clubhouse would take 12 to 18 months to build.
“After several draft plans, intervention from Covid and a volatile building market, KBSC is set to commence the demolition of the current Clubhouse building in the coming weeks,” he said.
“(Works) will include a state-of-the-art sailing facility, modern food and beverage areas and bespoke rooms that can host small, medium and large functions, events and conventions.
“The new KBSC Clubhouse building also includes meeting rooms with magnificent views to the Keppels that will make the facility well-sought after for local and visiting businesses looking at holding a get together for their teams and customers in a beautiful pristine location.”
It has been previously reported the development is estimated to create 289 new jobs and inject $39.8 million into the regional economy during the construction phase.
“We all know that job creation is essential and I am sure the boost to the local economy will be welcomed,” Capricornia MP Michelle Landry said.
“The new state-of-the-art facility will put our region on the national stage and provide good job opportunities for our young people.
“More visitors to our region mean more heads on beds, more visitors in our cafes and restaurants and more money back into the pockets of our local businesspeople.”
The Keppel Bay Sailing Club’s other venues The Spinnaker, Krackers Bar & Grill and Club Emu Park will not be affected during the construction period.
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