Gold Coast green bridge and gallery: first glimpse of the HOTA cultural precinct

New videos and photographs reveal how the HOTA precinct is taking shape, with council also getting a clearer picture on when work will be completed on the green bridge and gallery.

The HOTA site in Bundall.

NEW photographs and updated drawings reveal how HOTA is taking shape.

Council is also getting a clearer picture on when work will be completed on two key components of its planned world class cultural precinct.

What the Green Bridge to the cultural precinct on the Gold Coast will look like.

A report to council’s transport committee today revealed construction of the HOTA gallery is on schedule, but the completion of the green bridge will face some minor delays.

“Early works for the HOTA Gallery are complete and the main works are progressing per the contractor’s program,” the report said.

The early enabling works were finished in June and a temporary car park created to offset the spaces lost during construction of the building opposite the Evandale council chambers.

Officers predict the temporary car park will be removed and new lawns created in late 2020. A 50m high crane is on site, and about 252 people will be employed on the project.

The gallery is expected to be built by November 2020 and it will be opened by February 2021. The six-level tower will cost $60.5 million.

Work underway on the Green Bridge at the HOTA precinct.

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Piling has been completed on land and within the lake and Nerang River for the Green Bridge. The 130 long link between Evandale and Chevron Island will cost $19.5 million.

About 100 workers are employed, most of them Coast residents, with a large amount of the work off-site involving the building of a steel girder, the balustrade and handrail system along with the facade around the southern landing point for the bridge.

Aerial view of the Green Bridge linking to the cultural precinct on the Gold Coast.

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Council officers have been told by the contractor that there would be a delay to the planned completion date of October 30.

Work on the bridge should be finished by December 31 with the plan for the whole site to be ready by late January next year.

The report said council officers would update residents about the delay and continue to inform them about speed limit changes in the Nerang River as a barge was used during construction of the bridge.

Restaurant owners and retailers at Chevron Island will be briefed about the impact of the Mawarra Street shared path upgrade which links the green bridge to Thomas Drive.

Mayor Tom Tate visited the site today as work continued on the ground floor foyer.

“People will now be able to get a good idea of the size and scale of the gallery and judging from the height of the crane, the view of the skyline from the rooftop will be amazing,” he said.

“The lower ground floor for the 1000 square metre exhibition gallery for touring and blockbuster exhibitions has also been poured.

“As a triple A-rated gallery it will be a stand-out choice for international touring exhibitions and a major contributor to our cultural tourism.”

The construction site for the art gallery at HOTA on the Gold Coast.

Councillor Tate said HOTA was working with the “cream of the visual arts community nationally and internationally” to bring a quality program of blockbuster exhibitions to the gallery to ensure it becomes a cultural beacon.

“And with the Green Bridge connecting HOTA to Chevron Island due for completion early next year, everyone will soon have more ways to access the precinct,” he said.