Albert Hall redevelopment will be delivered nine months late at best and need council to stump up millions more

The $11.5m redevelopment of a heritage-listed Tasmanian concert hall will be delivered nine months late at best and require an additional $4.3–$6.4m of funding, a new report says.

Artist's render of the Eastern Wing redevelopment of Albert Hall. Picture: Launceston City Council

Originally forecast for completion by the end of 2023, the timeline for the completion of an $11m redevelopment of a heritage-listed Tasmanian concert hall has blown out after an unsuccessful tender process, while it will also need additional funding of between $4.3–$6.4m.

The City of Launceston announced the $11.58m redevelopment of Albert Hall, funded entirely by the federal government under the 2017 Launceston City Deal, in January 2021.

Stages 1 and 2 of the project will see a variety of upgrades to amenities including heating, lighting, audio and visual capabilities, Wi-Fi connectivity, toilet facilities, meeting rooms, stage access and backstage dressing rooms, and repairs to the hall’s roof.

Launceston's Albert Hall, depicted at some point between 1897-1899. Picture: Tasmanian Archives

Stage 3, the redevelopment of the Eastern Wing, will see a new reception area, foyer, cafe and function kitchen at ground-floor level, and a new foyer and meeting room at the first-floor level, connecting it to the adjacent City Park.

The hall was closed to performances at the end of January last year, with the redevelopment originally forecast to be completed by the end of this year.

However, council has revealed that despite the hall’s closure for 14 months, physical work on the redevelopment is yet to commence, with both tenders unsuccessful.

Council now forecasts the redevelopment will be completed by Q3 2024 at the earliest and will also “likely” require a fresh injection of funds under the upcoming council budget to ensure the project is delivered substantially as envisaged.

The interior of Launceston's Albert Hall, taken some time before 1939. Picture: Tasmanian Archives

Councillors will formally receive an update on the flagging redevelopment at Thursday’s ordinary meeting.

“Unfortunately, the project is one of a handful of projects which has been impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic which took effect within Tasmania in early 2020,” a council-authored report said.

“All projects that have spanned the pandemic have experienced financial challenges as many factors combined to drive up the cost of development by some 30–40 per cent, while driving down the availability of contractors.

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“It is considered likely that despite the value management that will occur, the early contractor engagement procurement process will derive an outcome which is greater than the current project budget and it will be necessary for the council to consider the provision of funding to ensure that the project outcomes can be realised, rather than a compromised outcome.

“Council is currently finalising its 2023–24 budget and there is financial capacity to

include a funding allocation to meet the anticipated budget shortfall for the project.

Launceston Mayor Danny Gibson. Picture: Facebook

“The range to be considered is between $4.3m to $6.4m, with a final figure to be determined by the contractor engagement procurement process.”

Launceston Mayor Danny Gibson said the project’s headwinds were due to an overheated construction sector.

“The post-Covid construction market continues to report a huge oversupply of work, which caused the initial delays in the project. However, there are signs that is starting to slow somewhat,” he said.

Mr Gibson said that upgrades to the classical Victorian hall, opened in 1891 added to the Register of the National Estate in 1978, were sorely needed.

Originally published as Albert Hall redevelopment will be delivered nine months late at best and need council to stump up millions more