Concept designs and business case

In November 2019 we sought community feedback on the concept designs and business case for the Queanbeyan Civic and Cultural Precinct.

Background

In 2017, we sought community feedback on a proposed Head Office and Smart Hub adjacent to The Q within the Lowe St car park. Following community input, Council elected not to proceed with construction on that site.

The Precinct will be located on the site of the former Council administration building at 257 Crawford St. This will free up a number of Council-owned properties for potential redevelopment.

Council is the major land holder in the CBD and that land is not being used to its full potential. The CBD Transformation Strategy focuses on attracting more workers and residents into our CBD to stimulate activity. This development is the catalyst for that to start happening and has the potential to attract an additional 160 workers into the CBD.

Concept designs

Following months of planning and consideration, Council released three options to the public for comment. The options propose different inclusions within the building, with Council having an early preference for option 5 in the business case.

Carparking will be provided via a basement car park for more than 100 spaces, 65 of which will be accessible to the public. Carparking will remain free of charge.

More than 40% of the precinct is focused on the community and cultural purposes. These include:

• community spaces
• linkages to The Q
• public domain and breakout spaces attached to the Bicentennial Hall (to increase Queanbeyan’s potential to attract conferences).

Business case

Cost is expected to be around $74m and will be funded via a combination of loans, asset sales, development contributions and grants. There will be no increase in rates to fund this project.

The loan will be a long-term, low interest loan. Before we can gain access to the loan, we need to go through a stringent process with the NSW Office of Local Government and NSW Treasury Corporation.