SECOND TIME LUCKY: Tenders reopen for Flagstaff Hill

The project was set for completion by the end of 2020 before the original tender was withdrawn.

Original plans for the new Flagstaff Hill development. Tenders for the project reopened yesterday.

TENDERS for the Flagstaff Hill Cultural and Conference Centre have reopened with hope it's second time lucky for the development.

The long-awaited replacement to the former centre, which was damaged during Cyclone Debbie in 2017, will be used by the Girudala Community Cooperative Society to promote Indigenous tourism activities.

A tender was awarded for the rebuild in February this year to Beep Beep Pty Ltd, trading as Richardson's Building Service.

However, the company withdrew its tender in late June because of COVID-19.

Original plans for the Flagstaff Hill redevelopment included a 100 seat cafe.

The council resolved to reopen a 'design and construct tender', meaning the successful company would be in charge of both the design and the construction phase of the development.

Original designs approved by council included a conference centre, cultural centre, outdoor amphitheatre area, cafe and gift shop.

The new tender is capped at $3 million including all costs associated with the delivery of the works.

The tender also comes with a recommendation to take into account the possibility of function facilities, a cafe, paddock to plate experiences and the ability to hold farmers markets.

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Whitsunday Regional Council Mayor Andrew Willcox said the centre would be a great drawcard for the wider Whitsunday community and hoped works could start soon.

"We're really looking forward to (the tender) process getting under way," he said.

"It will be bigger and better than what we had and more functional, and we're working with Girudala to (include) the indigenous experience."

Tenders will close on September 17.

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