Woollam awarded $11M tender for Riverbank Revitalisation Project
Published on 22 December 2016
Woollam Constructions has been announced as the successful tenderer for the central precinct of stage two of Rockhampton’s Riverbank Revitalisation project.
The $10,998,000 tender is set to enliven the low bank on the Fitzroy through a number of attractive uses including a new pier and restaurant, water jet plaza, Rod Laver plaza, landscaping, event infrastructure, curated public art and shaded seating with water misters to keep riverbank revellers cool.
Managing Director of Woollam Constructions, Craig Percival, praised Council’s Local Buy Policy which contributed towards the company being awarded the major project.
“Woollam has been around for a long time, we have priced a lot of jobs and built a lot of things and the Rockhampton Riverbank is one project we were particularly keen to win the tender for,” Mr Percival said.
“I would like to congratulate Council on their policies which helps companies like ours be awarded projects of this kind - Council has a commitment to Rockhampton and so have we.”
“We are committed to employing people fulltime in regional centres, particularly Rockhampton, but with the current economic climate that commitment means we have people working out of town at the moment, so this project is an opportunity to bring a lot of our good workers home to Rockhampton.”
Approximately 50 to 80 full-time Woollam employees will be working on the project that is set to commence mid-January 2017 and be completed during the course of the year.
Rockhampton Region Mayor Strelow said the lower parkland redevelopment will continue the fantastic transformation that can be seen on the upper bank.
“We are pleased to have awarded this very exciting tender to Woollam Constructions – it presents so many wonderful opportunities culturally and commercially for our city,” Mayor Strelow said.
“Council’s goal is to create a space that is enjoyable all year round for everyone in our community and I believe our design consultants, Urbis, have captured exactly this.”
Mayor Strelow said the design is extremely robust and will be able to withstand challenges from mother nature, especially those that the Fitzroy River throws at us.
Key Highlights of the Central Precinct – Stage 2
- Pier restaurant will replace the former Saigon Saigon building site and will be extended to jut out over the water
- New public amenities located underneath the pier restaurant
- Shaded stepped seating area overlooking water jet plaza
- Water misters incorporated into the poles of the shade structure to keep you cool
- Accessible lift to enter/exit the restaurant/lower bank
- Grand staircase leading down to the newly created ‘Rod Laver Plaza’
- Continuation of the same furniture package, street lighting and security technology as on Quay Street
The Rockhampton Riverfront Revitalisation is a $36 million project, jointly funded by Rockhampton Regional Council, the State Government and the Federal Government.