Civic Centre upgrade delayed, indoor sports facility needed

Glen Hartwig has officially pulled the plug on spending another $5 million on the Gympie Civic Centre, citing the region’s flood recovery and ‘desperate’ need for improved sporting facilities as higher priorities.

Gympie Mayor Glen HartwigL Two years after plans for the Gympie Civic Centre’s $1.5m “facelift” were revealed, the venue is beset by an ongoing unforseen list of safety concerns, and now it is back to dealing with asbestos.

More than two years after plans for the Gympie Civic Centre’s $1.5m “facelift” were revealed, the venue is beset by an ongoing unforeseen list of safety concerns, and now it is back to dealing with asbestos.

The facelift of 2020, initially planned to take a few months, turned into a much deeper operation which rendered the building a safety concern after electrical problems behind the walls, issues with a fire hose reel shaft, and some asbestos were exposed.

The Gympie Civic Centre closed for a few months for a facelift in 2020, two years on it is still closed due to ongoing safety concerns. Picture: Christine Schindler

Between now and 2020, repairs had to halt for a time while the centre was used as a mass vaccination clinic by QLD Health in September 2021, and then as a flood evacuation and recovery hub in early 2022.

After that, mould was a problem from the 2022 floods, and now, the discovery of more asbestos has meant council is revisiting its repair contract once again.

“There’s been some asbestos that we weren’t aware of that needed replacement and removal, so some extra works have been authorised by council,” Mayor Glen Hartwig said at a press conference at Gympie Town Hall on Wednesday morning.

“It was discovered as part of the mould removal.”

The Gympie Civic Centre closed for a few months for a facelift in 2020, two years on it is still closed due to ongoing safety concerns. Picture: Christine Schindler

Currently the repair bill sits at a “little bit over $3 million” but dealing with it means that “it would be better for the public all around,” Mr Hartwig said.

In regards to finding another proposed $5 million for significant upgrades to the building, such as improving acoustics, lighting, some new walls and ceilings along with a new box office, Mr Hartwig said there were higher priorities for the region.

“We have a desperate need for an indoor sports stadium,” he said.

“We have other sporting pressures around some of the clubs that use our dated and aged facilities and council I believe would be far keener to spend money and invest money in those facilities.”

When asked if there were any plans for a sports centre, Mr Hartwig pointed out needing to plan and find funds for such a project.

The Gympie Civic Centre closed for a few months for a facelift in 2020, two years on it is still closed due to ongoing safety concerns. Picture: Christine Schindler

“The challenge we face is we started this term with no money in the bank,” he said.

“We’ve had to deal with a few issues along the way Covid, flooding, we are focused on delivering that asset to the region.

“It’s no good just coming in and doing a sports stadium and then not having a plan for the future.”

Meanwhile, any planning for future events at the Civic Centre are on hold as the community awaits for an announcement of its opening date, with speculations it won’t be complete in 2023.

Originally published as Civic Centre upgrade delayed, indoor sports facility needed