Council calls for EOIs to build new gallery

Published on 25 September 2018

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Rockhampton Regional Council continues to make preparations for Rockhampton’s new art gallery as they wait on confirmation of federal funding.

General Manager of Regional Services, Peter Kofod, said Council is calling for Expressions of Interest for the gallery’s construction to ensure the project timeline stays on track, but hoped to hear confirmation of federal funding soon.

“We have our fantastic design, we have secured significant State funding for which we are very grateful, and we are hoping to hear good news from the Australian government very soon about their financial support.

“We know this gallery is going to be an absolutely wonderful asset for our community, and we are committed to finding the right people to build it.”

Mr Kofod said contractors who submit EOIs will then be shortlisted ahead of any formal tendering process.

“Council is well aware that a formal costed bid can be a significant undertaking for businesses, so this EOI will allow interested parties to let us know they’d like to do the job, without spending huge amounts of time and money on a full formal tender.

“It will allow us to evaluate companies who want to build this iconic gallery based on their capacity, capability and experience.

“However only those who are shortlisted will then be able to submit a formal tender, so it’s vital that any construction company interested in this project sends in their EOI before the closing date.”

Further details of the EOI will be released soon.

The Quay Street Cultural Precinct has been identified as one of the six key catalyst projects in the Rockhampton CBD Redevelopment Framework. The project’s objective is to create an activated cultural precinct with a focus on culture, art and modern education in the CBD around Customs House, Quay Laneway, Quay Street and the Riverbank.

The success of the Cultural Precinct will be largely centered on the construction of a new Art Gallery.

This new building would be a three story structure with around 4700m2 gross floor area. The building would include a double volume exhibition space on the lower floor and a Gallery for Council’s permanent collection on the upper level. It would also include retail and café spaces, flexible multipurpose areas / education spaces, administration, storage and back of house areas. The intent of the design is on visitor attraction and to provide a visual link through and within the building to the CBD and the River and enhance the prominence of the Customs House building to Quay Street. 

 Find out more about the new gallery here.