Project update: Coffs Harbour’s $80 million Yarrila Place civic building nears completion

The lights are on, but nobody’s home at the City of Coffs Harbour’s dramatic new civic space – at least not quite yet. Here’s the latest on the massive project.

The lights are on at Yarrila Place, Coffs Harbour. Picture: Chris Knight

Modern, majestic and fit for the future, or a mind-boggling overspend by a council with grandiose designs – Yarrila Place continues to be a talking point as the $80 million-plus project nears completion.

With an eye-catching green-coloured facade, Coffs Harbour’s new building is an unmistakeable sight on the emerging skyline.

On a gloomy bleak afternoon last week, interior lighting was revealed to be up and humming – though it will be some weeks yet before the new space is occupied.

Yarrila Place will house council staff, a gallery, a state of the art library split over three levels, and a museum.

There will be a cafe on the ground floor to meet the demand of onsite workers and visitors.

Yarrila Place taking shape in February this year. Picture: Chris Knight

Lipman Pty Ltd has issued an update on where things are at in the build as the project nears end game.

Milestones due by the end of the month include:

* The completion of the Level 3 multipurpose room ceiling, with timber flooring to be installed in the executive area.

* The final fit-out and fit-off of workstations, furniture and floor coverings.

* The basement fit-out, including tactiles, bollards and bike racks.

Lipman is expected to give a final handover of Yarrila Place to council by mid-year to enable the transition of the new space ahead of a grand opening.

A resident burning his rates notice outside Coffs Harbour City Council chambers in protest against the planned cultural and civic space.

The project team expects the current and remaining site works will have minimal impact on the community.

Yarrila Place has had its lovers and haters since day one – dividing opinion even in government.

State Coffs Harbour MP Gurmesh Singh has blamed the cost of the development for the pause on a number of other projects slated for the city.

Four Coffs Harbour City councillors walked out of a meeting on the Cultural and Civic Space in July 2019.

The council’s general manager Natalia Cowley has countered the decision to delay some works was more a reflection on an overly ambitious capital works program for the current financial year.

Yarrila Place has been so topical council has given it a dedicated Facebook page. Opinions have been strident.

Fans have praised the flowing curves and soft colour scheme, and opponents have labelled it a monstrosity.

It probably comes with the territory of being a unique building at a hefty price tag.

The Sydney Opera House is today considered a masterpiece and a thing of beauty around the world – but there were plenty who decried the project being built 50-odd years back.

Major works to be deferred to the 2023-2024 financial year include:

– Sportz Central Upgrade – $6.032m

– Upgrade of Sawtell and Woolgoolga pools $9.45m

– North Boambee Rd raising and infrastructure works $7.8m

– Brelsford Masterplan Works $4m

– Water supply infrastructure capital works $3.25m; and

– Sewer treatment infrastructure capital works $6.74m.

Originally published as Project update: Coffs Harbour’s $80 million Yarrila Place civic building nears completion