Gold Coast City Council says yes to $60.5m art gallery as part of cultural precinct plan

THE Gold Coast City Council has given the first tick to build a $60.5-million art gallery as a part of the first stage of the cultural precinct to be built at Evandale.

THE Gold Coast City Council has given the first tick to build a $60.5-million art gallery as a part of the first stage of the cultural precinct to be built at Evandale.

The project was bought forward after council were forced to demolish the old Riverside building due to structural concerns.

An artist's impression of the proposed new art gallery for the Gold Coast. Photo: GCCC

Plans for the new building show a large exhibition space large enough to include a main exhibition space which will be able to house travelling international exhibitions.

A tower to the side of the space will include a children’s gallery, community gallery, two collections gallery, library and rooftop bar and terrace.

Storage will be underneath the main gallery space.

The gallery will cost about $53.5 million to build with a further $7.5 million to be spent on association infrastructure such as a car park.

The gallery will be built once the amphitheatre entertaining space is completed.

Mayor Tom Tate said the amphitheatre was on track prior to the Commonwealth Games and was looking forward to the second half of the first stage of the cultural precinct.

“I’m impressed with the early concepts which establish location, size and functions for the gallery,” he said.

An artist’s impression of the $37.5 million redevelopment of the Gold Coast Cultural Precinct at Evandale.

“We can now move forward with design development.”

Deputy mayor Donna Gates also added a recommendation the council look at building a green footbridge between Evandale and Chevron Island.

The bridge had previously been mooted but was not expected to be built due to the $30 million price tag associated with the building.

An artist’s impression of the proposed amphitheatre.

Cr Gates said the latest estimates had shown the footbridge could be built for about $20 million.

The Economic Development and Events Committee voted unanimously to continue with the art gallery and bridge as a part of stage 1b of the cultural precinct.