Builder appointed as true cost of Civic Centre revamp revealed

Gympie Regional Council has released a statement on the Gympie Civic Centre after it was revealed the “revitalisation” of the building was going to cost $18.5million.

Mayor Glen Hartwig said this was a critical time for the Civic Centre project, “and the council had worked hard to ensure the project had every chance of success throughout construction and beyond”.

Gympie Regional Council has released a statement on the Gympie Civic Centre after it was revealed the “revitalisation” of the building was going to cost $18.5million.

A statement put out by the council said Hutchinson Builders had been formally appointed as the construction firm for the Civic Centre works.

“Following an in-depth scoping exercise to refine key elements of the works, Hutchinson Builders is now progressing to the construction phase of works, which is expected to commence in the new year,” the statement said.

“At the same time, council is establishing a Precinct Reference Group to enable community stakeholders to help shape the revitalisation project and future operations.”

Mayor Glen Hartwig said this was a critical time for the project, “and the council had worked hard to ensure the project had every chance of success throughout construction and beyond”.

“Despite numerous setbacks that have hampered progress in recent years, we are forging ahead, and working alongside our community to make sure the project delivers a great facility for our region.

Gympie Civic Centre aerial. April 3, 2025.

“This tender process allowed for a period of early investigations by the contractor to accurately scope the state of the building and clearly map out a path for construction.

“Now we can move forward with confidence and clear understanding of what is needed to bring this valued community asset back to life. This approach respects ratepayer investment and ensures we continue progressing towards reopening.

“Due to the age of the Civic Centre, and notwithstanding the presence of mould, the electrical infrastructure and disability compliance requirements must be upgraded to meet today’s standards. These essential upgrades represent approximately 50% of the total associated costs.”

Mr Hartwig said the council had established the Precinct Reference Group to enable community stakeholders to contribute to project planning and delivery.

“This reference group is made up of community representatives from a broad range of sectors including business, arts and culture, emergency services, first nations, and senior citizens,” he said.

“We are also seeking expressions of interest for a further five representatives to join us on this journey, and I encourage interested residents to apply.

“Ideally, we are seeking locals who have experience or skills in performing arts, events, hospitality, tourism, or venue operations to ensure we have diverse representation within the group.

“Expressions of Interest are due by Tuesday, January 27, 2026 for consideration, with the first full PRG meeting to occur in February 2026.”

The Civic Centre Revitalisation Project is expected to cost $18.5 million, with $7.5 million allocated in this year’s council budget to progress design, scope of works, and kick off construction.

Originally published as Builder appointed as true cost of Civic Centre revamp revealed