MEDIA RELEASE
27 February 2020
The demolition of the former Fraser Coast Regional Council administration building in Maryborough starts next Monday (2 March) and is due to be completed by the end of May.
CEO Ken Diehm said an independent engineering report found the building at 431 Kent Street had reached the end of its working life and had to be demolished.
“The report concluded that the 50-year-old building was unusable as it had a number of structural defects, required a new air-conditioning system and needed upgrades to the water supply and sanitary drainage, an overhaul of electrical systems and the removal of asbestos,” he said.
“The building that housed the Maryborough Toy and Special Needs Library will also be demolished with the staff and toys relocated to within the Maryborough Library at the start of the year.
“It’s pleasing that the relocation of the toy library has been embraced by the community with toy loans rising from an average of 46 per week to 75 a week since the move.”
Director of Infrastructure Services Davendra Naidu said street revitalisation works in the Maryborough CBD were progressing well with the installation of underground infrastructure on the northern side of Kent Street complete, and footpath concrete pours now commencing.
“Weather permitting, the concrete footpath works on the northern side of this project will be finalised before the start of the demolition of the administration building,” he said.
“Works are also progressing on the southern side of Kent Street with the straightening of the City Hall stair columns and the remaining tie-in of the block retaining wall complete, which allows the brick façade retaining wall to commence.
“These street revitalisation works, which have been part funded by the Queensland Government through the Building our Regions program, are scheduled for completion by early May.”
Mr Diehm said a car parking area behind the old administration building had been barricaded off, and there would be no access to Kent Street or Adelaide Street via the fenced work area.
“Council has insisted on a number of measures to minimise the impact of the building demolition work on the community, including no use of large hydraulic jack hammers, air quality monitoring and traffic control,” he said.
“In addition, the finished site will be grassed to prevent erosion and sediment run-off to protect our waterways.
“We recognise that this work will cause some inconvenience and we thank everyone in advance for their patience as the end result will be a better and brighter Maryborough CBD.”
Mr Diehm said Council was committed to maintaining a presence in the Maryborough CBD and would develop a new administration centre and library on the same site.
“The development of a new Maryborough administration centre will be a long process, with demolishing the old building the first step,” he said.
“Council has started the concept design work and is conducting an accommodation review which will help determine the requirements for new administration centres in both Maryborough and Hervey Bay.
“With both Maryborough and Hervey Bay libraries not having enough space to meet the needs of our growing population and to meet State Government public library grant requirements, we’re also looking to incorporate a new library facility into the Maryborough administration centre.”
Council is committed to minimising impacts to the community and businesses. All works will be monitored closely by Council and the contractors with regular communication with stakeholders and nearby residents and businesses.
The planned works for these projects will run in parallel and will be coordinated to minimise disruptions to the community.
Residents and Stakeholders are encouraged to register through this project page to keep up to date with the details of the project prior to the works commencing. This page will also remain open during the works as a resource for community members and stakeholders to keep up to date during the project.
To ensure that residents and stakeholders are adequately informed, Council will communciate in a number of ways.
Council will visit businesses and residences in the immediate vacinity of the works in December to discuss the project.
Council will also be writing to residents and stakeholders at key milestones of the project.
Council will update registered stakeholders regularly every two weeks once works commence via an email newsletter. The project page will also send those updates etc to registered members during the project.
Council will write to residents and businesses before Christmas. Council will also write to residents and stakeholders again once the outcome of the demolition works tender process is known with any updated information.
If this is your first time using Council’s Engagement Hub, please click on register (or https://frasercoast.engagementhub.com.au/register) to create an account. When prompted, create a username and password of your choice and provide a valid email address. Please also choose Maryborough Revitalisation Project – so we know you are interested in the project specifically.
If you have already registered and wish to be included in project updates, please update your preferences by following this link: https://frasercoast.engagementhub.com.au/user
Maryborough CBD Revitalisation – Kent Street (Lennox to Adelaide Streets)
Janaury 2020 - May 2020 (approximately 17 weeks): * subject to change dependent on delays out of the control of Council and the contractors.
Maryborough Administration Centre – Demolition Works
March 2020 - May 2020: * subject to change dependent on delays out of the control of Council and the contractors.
Future Works - New Maryborough Administration Building and Library
Mid 2020 Start: The project, inlcuding community & stakeholder engagement, is due to commence in the second half of 2020.
The Stage 2 works, which will commence on the northern side of Kent Street, will be undertaken with a planned completion time of 17 weeks. The Stage 2 works will be undertaken as night works with a full road closure with detour being put in place whilst the works are undertaken. During the day, a one way traffic flow arrangement in an Easterly direction will be implemented. A copy of the layout plan and Fact Sheet relating to the Stage 2 works is located in the Document Library.
The tender for the works closed at the end of November 2019. The tender report is expected to be considered by Council in December.
The works are expected to commence 2 March 2020 and conclude at the end of May 2020. This is subject to change dependent on the tender assessment and delays out of the control of the contractor and Council. A copy of the layout plan and Fact Sheet is located in the Document Library.
Council is committed to minimising impacts to the community and businesses. All works will be monitored closely. An Independent Air Quality Specialist will be engaged during the project to monitor the works. Works will be done during the day and traffic control measures will be in place during working hours for the duration of the works.
The project has been funded through the Queensland Government’s Building our Regions program and by the Fraser Coast Regional Council
Council appreciates the Queensland Government’s funding commitment of $921,960 towards the $2.5 million project to revitalise Kent Street between Lennox and Adelaide Streets, which includes the first stage of work completed earlier this year.
The demolition works of the Administration Building is funded by Council.
The School of Arts building will be closed for the duration of works, and approximately three weeks prior to the works to make the area safe. Approximate closure will occur early next year, sometime in January/February 2020.
The Toy Library will be re-located early January. The new location is not known at this time.
Bus stops closed – Kent St, Maryborough
From Monday 13 January to mid-2020, two bus stops on Kent St near City Hall will be closed as part of Stage 2 of the Maryborough CBD beautification works.
During this time, route 701, 702, 703, 704, 706 and 707 will stop at a temporary stop on Lennox St outside the Bowls Club.
Route 705 will stop at a temporary stop on Kent St, outside the McDowell carpark.
For more information call Wide Bay Transit on 4121 3719.
Should you wish to discuss any aspect of either of these projects, please contact:
Maryborough CBD Beautification – Kent Street (Lennox to Adelaide Streets)
Toni Souvlis: 07 4190 5742 or via email enquiry@frasercoast.qld.gov.au
Maryborough Administration Centre – Demolition Works
Corporate Projects Team: 1300 79 49 29 or via email enquiry@frasercoast.qld.gov.au
Future works will involve the construction of a new Council Administration Centre for Maryborough. No design for the new buildings has commenced as yet. The project, including community engagement, is due to commence in the second half of 2020.
The development of the new site is very important for the community of Maryborough as it will provide modern services and facilities in the heart of the CBD. The site development is part of the Council’s plan to revitalise the Maryborough CBD area.