$9.6 million Proserpine Administration Building rebuild

The site is currently empty after the damaged building was demolished late 2018.

Construction of the new building will commence later this year and cost $9.6 million dollars, with a total of $8.6 million in external funding contributing to the rebuild of the Administration Centre.

The Queensland Government will fund $5 million to incorporate a new, improved Local Disaster Coordination Centre and $3.6 million from the Australian Government’s Building Better Regions program will fund the Climate Change Innovation Hub within the premises.

Architects are currently finalising a detailed design for the new Proserpine Administration building, after a concept plan was approved by Council late last year.

It is expected the final design will be completed and presented to Council for adoption in June. Mayor Andrew Willcox said it will great to see actual bricks and mortar come out of the ground later this year.

“It is great to have three tiers of government working together, with both the Queensland Government and the Australian Government investing large sums of money into Proserpine.

“I realise it has been difficult for the community, and very difficult for Council staff with the dispersal of our team around the area, so this is good news,” he said.

“We are awaiting the final tick on the Disaster Centre and Climate Change Innovation Hub layouts and detailed design and then go to tender for construction,” Mayor Willcox said.

“It has taken a long time to get to this point, but we have to go through the process to meet the funding criteria.

“This means not only acquitting the project money but also gaining input from the funding bodies during the detailed design and planning process.”

Major Projects Director Tim Rose said the architect had now begun work on the detailed design. “Once the design is finished it will go out to tender in June; we will assess those and appoint a construction company, with construction expected to begin around August 2019,” he said.

“The building will be single-story with accommodation for 127 staff while also housing the Local Disaster Centre and Climate Change Hub.”

Currently, the region’s southern staff are spread across various temporary workspaces between Cannonvale and Proserpine.

Once the construction and fit-out is completed, all southern office staff will move back into the new building in Proserpine.

Council is currently negotiating options for a positive car parking solution for the new building.