Cultural and Civic Space modification approval given ahead of naming

There were concerns design changes could hold up work on an $82m building but the council has got what it needed to stay on track.

Coffs Harbour City Council has received approval for changes to its Cultural and Civic Space design in the nick of time, several days after construction on early works was due to be complete.

The controversial project has been progressing at pace, however, there were concerns a development modification submitted to the Department of Planning Industry and Environment might hold up work. 

The council’s modified plans have now been given the green light after the department asked twice for more information on the changes.

Only piling and excavation work is permitted by the current construction certificate and works were due to be completed on Thursday last week.

On Wednesday a council spokeswoman said those works were still ongoing.

“Council’s appointed builder is currently finishing off physical works associated with construction certificate #1, such as in-ground services, and will progress work associated with construction certificate #2 to suit the schedule,” the spokeswoman said

“No delay costs associated with this process have been incurred.”

View from into the foyer of the planned Cultural and Civic Space in Coffs Harbour.

Meanwhile, the shortlist of names for one the building has been revealed and all have their origin in Gumbaynggirr language.

Councillors will decide on Thursday what to call the $82 million Cultural and Civic Space, with Yarrila Place, Miindalay Place and Murrungba Place all in the mix.

The building, which will house a new art gallery, library and council staff offices, is scheduled for completion in October 2022 and has been incredibly divisive.

The consultants tasked with finding a name for the building, local firm Saso Creative, said the “startlingly overwhelming” message from the community was that the name should be of Gumbaynggirr origin.

“This was not in response to a specific leading question: it was entirely unprompted, unscripted, ad lib and volunteered,” the Saso Creative report states.

Council staff have recommended adopting Yarrila Place as the official name of the building.

Yarrila is a Gumbaynggirr word meaning illuminate, brighten, light up and illustrate.

Saso Creative is a local creative firm which is made up of Sam Chapman and Nanette Backhouse and while there were 185 names from a series of workshops and online consultations they stated English language names “simply didn’t make the cut”.

“They just didn’t have the power, emotional pull and saleability as the three Gumbaynggirr names,” the report states.

“In fact, were we to present a final five, rather than three, it would most likely still have been five Gumbaynggirr names.”

More project milestones have been met in recent weeks with the council signing off on a $50 million loan as well as selling off Rigby House.