By Rowan Forster
Councillors have signed off on a $7.8 million overhaul of the Cardinia Cultural Centre, appointing a contractor at Monday night’s council meeting.
Six tenders were received to undertake the multi-million dollar redevelopment, with the Evaluation Panel voting in favour of Port Melbourne-based building firm Lloyd Group.
The works will include a new arts space, dance studios, office and work spaces, light court, stores, change-rooms and amenities, laundry, lobby and the extension of the existing car park.
Cr Michael Schilling, who moved the motion, described it as a “huge step forward”.
“This will be a spectacular development, which will contribute to our growing arts culture across Cardinia,” he said.
It has been slated for completion across three stages, with the first proposed to be carried out in the 2017/18 financial year.
The decision came after Cardinia Shire commissioned a feasibility study, which justified the need to redevelop the facility to accommodate for population growth.
While Cr Graeme Moore was thrilled with the project’s progression, he said he would have liked to see a Cardinia-based building firm receive the tender.
“It would have been nice to see a local builder using local materials and local labour but it’s been through the scorecards and they’ve come up with the goods,“ he said.
The project has kicked off under budget, with $8.9 million being stumped up by the council ($5.9 million) and the Victorian Government’s Growing Suburbs Fund ($3 million).
According to Cr Schilling, current arrangements will not be affected by the redevelopment.
“Cardinia Cultural Centre will continue to operate throughout the construction period and even if it does look like a work zone, it’s still open for business,“ Cr Schilling said.
