Dirt is ready to be turned on a $100-million-plus city-shaping development in the heart of the regional Queensland coastal city of Hervey Bay.
Fraser Coast Regional Council has awarded the tender to build its new administration centre, two-level library, community hub and public plaza to construction firm Hansen Yuncken.
Touted as a game-changer for the city of 62,000 people about 290km north of Brisbane, a whale-watching tourism mecca and gateway to K’gari, formerly known as Fraser Island, work is expected to begin this year.
The contract has been awarded for $108.7 million and is being partially funded by a $40-million Australian government commitment under the Hinkler Regional Deal.
A vacant building on the site at the corner of Main Street and Torquay Road, Pialba, was demolished in July.
Local councillor David Lee said the project would be the cornerstone for the revitalisation of Hervey Bay’s city centre.
“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reshape the Hervey Bay city centre, to create jobs and drive economic growth and investment. We must do it right,” he said.
“Work is about to get under way on undergrounding power in the area, which is expected to be completed by November, paving the way for construction of the new building to then start.”
Construction will be undertaken during the next three years with completion expected by June, 2026.
Three-quarters of the development will be dedicated to community space but the project has copped backlash from some locals who dubbed it Hervey Bay’s “Taj Mahal”.
Hansen Yuncken also delivered the Hervey Bay Hospital Emergency Department redevelopment.
