Gympie Civic Centre restoration bill soars to $18m, rivalling Rattler cost

The cost to fix Gympie’s shuttered civic centre has soared, now matching the budget disaster of the region’s infamous Rattler restoration.

The long-demanded reopening of the Gympie Civic Centre years after it was first shut is one step closer, but the price of bringing it back to life is now expected to rival the blowout-riddled Rattler’s restoration.

The long-demanded reopening of the Gympie Civic Centre years after it was first shut is one step closer, but the price of bringing it back to life is now expected to rival the blowout-riddled Rattler’s restoration.

Councillors will be asked on Wednesday to award a new contract to J Hutchinson for the centre’s repairs, with the construction bill expected to run at more than $15.7 million.

A staff report accompanying the item said, including contingency and project costs for things like consultants, the entire budget for the building could hit more than $18 million.

This would rival the official final bill of the Rattler during its controversial restoration, which was reported at $18.1 million.

The civic centre has itself been controversially shut since early 2020.

A staff report said, including contingency and project costs for things like consultants, the entire budget for repairing the civic centre could hit more than $18 million. Picture: Christine Schindler

It was originally shut ahead of planned restorations, with the Covid outbreak and lockdowns forcing its doors to remain closed indefinitely.

Queensland Health co-opted it as the city’s main vaccination hub from July 2021 to mid-2022.

The renovation plans were then thwarted by the near-record floods across the region in 2022, which forced the building to serve as an emergency evacuation hub.

The council report says the centre suffered “extensive” damage during the events which caused a black mould infestation throughout the building.

Plans were floated to reopen the centre in December 2022, but this was eventually pushed back to 2023 when further storm damage was revealed, then 2024 when the building was declared mould free.

The reopening date now remains unknown.

This Gympie Civic Centre work could rival the official final bill of the Rattler during its controversial restoration, which was reported at $18.1 million. Pictures: Infinity Flights Photography

The report says the council would borrow money to cover the cost of repairs, although efforts were underway to obtain grant or insurance help.

These borrowings would include $12.6 million taken out in the 2025-26 financial year, and $3.3 million in 2026-27.

The report says the council would be able to fully fund the rebuild if grant money is secured and negotiations with the insurer are successful, although the “more realistic” scenario is the total borrowings being cut by 30-50 per cent.

The centre’s closure since early 2020 has been a lightning rod for controversy, with calls for the council to urgently reopen the building as it was costing the region live entertainment and events.

Gympie Regional Council’s 2025-26 budget included $7.5 million to progress design, work scope, and construction on the centre.

Originally published as Gympie Civic Centre restoration bill soars to $18m, rivalling Rattler cost