Green light for Civic Centre

Council has been granted full occupation of the Civic Centre after the facility passed an inspection yesterday.

Mayor Darriea Turley said it was a great relief to have all major work completed after the project encountered numerous setbacks.

"When you undertake the renovation of a building of this size and age you expect a few problems, but I think it's fair to say that neither this administration nor the last could have envisioned the number of issues that have arisen during this project," she said.

“It has been a very trying period that has placed a great amount of stress on Council staff, Councillors, and the local groups who rely on the Centre’s availability to host their events.

"However we've learned many valuable lessons from this project, and we'll continue to pursue some lingering legal matters relating to the refurbishment, but for now we just want to focus on reopening the centre and returning it to public use.

Mayor Turley said the work undertaken recently to complete the project had produced an outstanding finish.

"We're very happy with the finished product, we said from the outset we wanted to deliver a world-class entertainment and conference venue, and that's what the city now has," she said.

“To the credit of the current builders they’ve been able to largely maintain the look of the original design while implementing an array of structural and electrical fixes and upgrades throughout the building.

"We've retained the classic look and feel of the auditorium, but undertaken a significant refit of the foyer, kitchen, bathrooms, and the entire upper level.

"And all of these improvements have been complemented with the installation of the latest technology to ensure the centre offers state-of-the-art audio-visual and conferencing facilities.

"Overall the Centre has undergone an impressive transformation, and I'd encourage everyone to come along and see it for themselves next month at a Community Open Day.”

In the lead up to the Open Day the centre will undergo cleaning and other final touches.

The Open Day will be held between 12pm-4pm on 5 August, and staff will be on hand to answer questions from those touring the facility.

Refreshments and light snacks will be provided, and coffee will be available on the Civic Centre Plaza.