Rockhampton development due to be finished, start construction in 2024
From a childcare centre to aged care facilities, the city’s first hospice and a Dan Murphy’s for the northside, take a look at the list of some of the biggest projects expected to begin construction or be completed in 2024. MORE ADDED.
Rockhampton
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While there have been numerous developments built across the Rockhampton region over 2023, there are also some nearing completion and others set to begin in 2024.
From a childcare centre to aged care facilities, the city’s first hospice and a Dan Murphy’s for the northside, take a look at the list of some of the biggest projects expected to begin construction or be completed in 2024.
Note: Projects have been added to this story since it was first published.
ALDI, STOCKLAND ROCKHAMPTON
EXPECTED START DATE: Early 2024
A tender for the construction of the stand-alone Aldi in the Stockland Rockhampton carpark was awarded in July 2023.
Commercial building company SJ Higgins, who have a head office in Melbourne, were successful.
The single storey building has been approved to be 6.25 metres high with a gross floor area of 1725 sqm.
It will be located in the carpark adjacent to the Kmart end, taking out 123 car parks, and a covered awning would connect to the main Stockland building.
It’s unclear when construction will start or who was awarded the tender.
Stockland told this publication on January 11 construction would be starting soon and it would be complete in early 2025.
C & K PARKHURST CHILDCARE CENTRE
EXPECTED COMPLETION: First quarter of 2024
The 126-place centre will cater for children from six weeks to five years of age and operate from 6.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday.
There will be two nursery rooms, two toddlers rooms, two pre-kindy rooms and two kindy rooms, with 20 staff.
Morning tea, lunch and afternoon will be supplied to the children cooked by a qualified chef and there is a commercial kitchen on-site.
The centre is located near the Parkhurst State School, with access from Mason Ave.
Construction has been ticking along, with the roof on, windows up, internal framework installed, and sheeting started, along with the playground.
Handover is expected in the first quarter of 2024, pending the weather, trade availability, materials and equipment supplies.
Expressions of interest are open for families to apply for care and jobs are advertised.
BENEVOLENT ON WEST, THE RANGE
EXPECTED COMPLETION: Early 2024
Scaffolding has come down from the building site at Benevolent Living’s latest development.
The vertical retirement village will have four storeys of accommodation and ground floor community amenities for residents use.
Hutchinson Builders Toowoomba are now working on the internal fit-out and the finishing touches on the exterior, with a handover expected in mid-January.
It is the second stage of Benevolent Living’s $47 million development.
Stage one, The Terraces, opened in July 2022, a multistorey building including 36 suites and one-bedroom apartments.
DAN MURPHY’S NORMAN GARDENS
EXPECTED COMPLETION: By June 2024
It was announced in March 2023 a Dan Murphy’s would be opening in the Glenmore Shopping Village, in the space where the Foodworks once was.
At the time, it was scheduled to be opened by December 2023 which hasn’t come to fruition, but construction is well underway.
It is understood there have been construction delays with trades and supplies.
The new store will provide 20 full-time and casual jobs and will be the first store on the northside, and the second store for Rockhampton.
An Endeavour spokesperson, the overarching company which owns Dan Murphy’s along with BWS, told this publication on January 15 “the store is expected to open before the end of the financial year”.
MENTAL WELLBEING SAFE HAVEN, MUSGRAVE STREET
EXPECTED COMPLETION: August 2024
With $3.1 million in state government funding, the Selectability mental health hub at 2-6 Musgrave Street in North Rockhampton will provide accessible mental health care, suicide prevention and health vocational training.
It will include counselling and conference and training rooms, indoor and outdoor activity spaces, a library, office spaces and off street carparking.
An official sod turning was held in October and early works have begun on site.
The build is expected to take 45 weeks and civil works are hoped to be completed by the end of this month with structural work to begin in February.
Brisbane-based company V2R Projects expect to handover the project in late August 2024.
FITZROY COMMUNITY HOSPICE
EXPECTED COMPLETION: First half of 2024
Construction of the Fitzroy Community Hospice, under head contractor Paynters, was completed in November and an internal fit-out will now take place over the next few months.
The state-of-the-art palliative care facility at 38 Agnes Street will operate as a 12-bed licenced health facility.
It will be the first hospice in Central Queensland, with the closest in Hervey Bay and others in South-East Queensland.
The project has widespread community support and has received money from school fundraisers, events, business sponsorships, hospitality venue partnerships and more, along with government funding.
GUZMAN Y GOMEZ AND BANJOS BAKERY DRIVE-THRU
EXPECTED COMPLETION: 2024
Hutchinsons Builders have put up the frames for the new Guzman y Gomez and Banjos Bakery drive-through on the site of the former Project Mex on George Street.
Tasmanian-founded Banjo’s Bakery Cafe is approved to operate from 4am to 8pm.
The GYG will be a dual-lane drive-through and also offer pick up and dine in, open from 5am to 10pm.
It will be the second GYG in Rockhampton and will create 100 jobs.
Entry to the site will be from George Street and exit on Campbell Lane.
GYG advised in late December it was optimistic the store would open in mid-2024.
MERCY HAVEN, BETHANY AGED CARE FACILITY
EXPECTED COMPLETION: 2024
Paynters have been awarded the contract to build the 90-bed, three-storey building, which will include private rooms with ensuites, community spaces and gardens.
Once this building is complete, a refurbishment will take place on the existing 45-year-old Bethany building.
Plans for the $42 million project were unveiled in November 2021 and a sod turning was held in July 2023.
The development has received $17.8 million in Federal Government funding.
LEICHHARDT HOTEL DEMOLITION
EXPECTED COMPLETION: End of 2024
Early demolition works have begun on the site of the Leichhardt Hotel by company Demex.
The 25-plus trades are removing the asbestos before the seven-storey building with 60 four-star accommodation rooms and rear units are demolished.
According to an update by the project manager on January 8, internal asbestos works in the main tower are ongoing and tracking well.
Mechanical demolition of the back building will begin shortly and high reach works of the main building are due to start in late March or early April.
The facade of the ground floor of the main building on Bolsover Street will be retained and a single-storey hotel with a sports bar, beer garden, indoor dining and gaming room will be built.
The demolition is expected to be completed in 2024.
FRENCHVILLE SPORTS CLUB RENOVATIONS
EXPECTED START DATE: Early 2024
A master plan was announced by the board of Frenchville Sports Club in October, including a major renovation of the club, new entrance from Ryan Park, new cafe, refurbished bistro and wonderland for children.
There will also be a new Dusk Lounge for entertainment, Oasis Lounge, duo cocktail and sports bar, with an expansive new screen and amenities.
A new RSL Memorial Wall will also be unveiled and a solar-covered parking facility.
Ashley Cooper Constructions were announced in December as the head contractor.
Work is scheduled to begin in early 2024.
DENHAM STREET CHILDCARE CENTRE
EXPECTED START DATE: 2024
The former Imbina Medical Centre at 149 Denham Street was sold to childcare centre developer Tony Ramsay in February, who has plans to redevelop the existing building into a 90-place childcare centre.
Plans were lodged with council in November and include offering overnight care for shift workers.
Council is still assessing the development application but Mr Ramsay is very keen to get started on it in 2024.
BROWNE PARK
EXPECTED START DATE: 2024
$54 million redevelopment for a modern, fit-for-purpose facility to bring the full capacity from 5,000 to up to 10,000.
Stage one is to include a three-level, 3,500-seat grandstand, change rooms, public amenities, food and beverage outlets, media and coach facilities, corporate areas, a function room, broadcast facilities and offices.
Demolition is scheduled to begin in February 2024 and main construction works in April, pending weather and sourcing labour and materials.
The project is expected to support more than 170 local jobs.
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