Gold Coast City Council pushes ahead with $60.5 million art gallery and bridge
THE first stage of the Gold Coast cultural precinct is nearly finished. Now get your first look at the $60.5 million building which is coming next and how it will change the face of culture in the city.
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GOLD Coast City Council will fast-track the building of its new art gallery and “green” bridge as part of the cultural precinct to quell any Commonwealth Games hangover.
Releasing the first impressions of the gallery yesterday, city leaders revealed the six-storey feature would cost $60.5 million and cover 6000-6500 square metres.
MAYOR PROMISES FERRY BETWEEN EVANDALE AND SURFERS PARADISE
Work is likely to start either late next year or early 2019, and be complete by late 2020 — 18 months to two years faster than originally thought.
“With the amphitheatre fully operational we will be ready to start on the next key piece of the precinct, including the green bridge and our new city art gallery,” Mayor Tom Tate said yesterday.
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“This will be a vital project which will deliver important cultural infrastructure and jobs after the 2018 Games.
The gallery is expected to be built on Evandale’s southern side and will drastically expand the city’s existing display space to feature up to five floors of exhibits and halls.
According to concept designs, it would also feature a rooftop eatery, providing views of the city skyline and Nerang River.
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While it is being built, planning will begin on the third stage of the $300 million precinct, which take in the arts tower and upgrades of the existing arts centre.
Work on the $37.5 million first stage, unveiled yesterday, is expected to finish on December 1 when the performance amphitheatre and parkland will be fitted out. It will open early next year.
Built on the site of the council’s former “beehive” headquarters, it is expected to play a central role in Commonwealth Games celebrations.
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Touring the site yesterday, Cr Tate said he expected the entire precinct to be completed by the mid-2020s.
“It is essential the city continue to build infrastructure and now that this first stage is delivered, the functionality will shine and build momentum for the next,” he said.
“As we build this momentum we can get the next stages going as the public votes with their feet coming here.
THE FUTURE OF DEVELOPMENT ON THE GOLD COAST
“Once it is open you will see plenty of people coming here.”
The amphitheatre, known as the “versatile outdoor space”, will host up to 5000 people during performances and double as a function centre when its 3.5-tonne door is closed.
WHERE THE NEW CASINO WILL BE BUILT
The roof of the centre will also function as accessible parkland for visitors who will be able to picnic on top with elevated views of Surfers Paradise.
Cr Tate dubbed the picnic spot “the best seats in the house”.
Lawn will be laid through November in the final phase of works which will be allowed to grow through the summer months before the first Games-related festivities are held as part of Festival GC.
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A large Easter service is also expected to be held.
The Mayor said he hoped to attract leading music acts, including Pink, to perform intimate shows at the venue while touring Australia.
Gold Coast Eisteddfod manager Judith Ferber, a leading figure in the city’s arts community for more than 36 years, welcomed news of the fast-tracked works.
She said the gallery, arts tower and revamp of the arts centre represented the culmination of the dream of a cultural precinct dating back to the early 1980s.
“I have been involved in the arts centre since day one,” she said.
“Any new features, particularly the gallery is incredibly welcome and our city deserves a centre like this.”
The Evandale site was first developed in the mid-1970s and was long-planned as the city’s cultural centre.
Amphitheatre, stage one
* Construction expected to be completed by December 1.
* Seats up to 5000 people with space for 200 people when stage is set up as enclosed function venue.
* Has 600sq m shade cover which resembles a pineapple.
* Has 10 10-tonne support beams. Footings are buried 15m in the ground.
* More than 860 jobs created through 18-month construction.
* Built on the 1.4ha of land cleared from the former site of the council’s “beehive” administration building.
* More than 18 CCTV security cameras will be installed around the precinct.
* First unveiled in early 2014, the council hopes to complete the three stages by 2024.
* Palm trees are being installed on the site to add greenery to the entrance paths to the complex.
* The amphitheatre will also feature an extensive back-of-house area including a kitchen, green room, lighting and technical equipment.
* The main stage can be used both for large-scale events and smaller gigs which would be held on the backstage near Evandale Lake
Chevron to Evandale bridge’s tender loving
TENDERS have been called for the final design of the Chevron Island “green bridge” which will connect the cultural precinct to the residential hub.
Once expected to cost up to $30 million, it is understood the final cost is set to be
“significantly lower”, with construction expected to begin in mid-late 2018 and completed in
late 2019.
It will connect from a site near Evandale lake to Stanhill Drive near the Karloo St carpark.
Mayor Tom Tate said the bridge would help form an “art corridor” from Evandale through to Surfers Paradise.
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