Gympie Mayor Glen Hartwig has welcomed an $11 million grant from the Albanese Government toward the restoration and upgrade of the Gympie Civic Centre.
IMAGE of the current Gympie Civic Centre which is closed for repairs by Vivienne Wynter
The facility has languished, unused and in disrepair since the 2022 floods caused a major mould problem which occurred alongside normal building deterioration.
The $11 million in federal funding will be added to the $18.5 million contract council awarded Hutchies Sunshine Coast in January this year for a full internal refit.
Mayor Hartwig said council appreciated the Albanese Government’s funding boost, saying it took a ‘huge weight off ratepayers’ and that it would fast track the restoration with completion due in the first half of 2027.
‘A civic centre is the heartbeat of regional communities and the Gympie community has gathered here for school formals, debutante balls, music and comedy events and weddings,’ Mayor Hartwig said.
‘It’s a place were people weave the social fabric and the town has suffered without it.’
Gympie Civic Centre in better days IMAGE GRC
Mayor Hartwig said the federal funding would support improved accessibility to the Civic Centre ‘for audiences and also for performers, because not all performers are able-bodied.
‘The new Civic Centre will meet modern disability compliance requirements.’
Mayor Hartwig said the restoration would have been ‘extremely difficult’ without federal assistance.
Federal Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories, Kristy McBain, said as someone who grew up in a regional town, she understood how important civic centres were to communities.
She said reopening the Civic Centre would give Gympie a performing arts venue to host touring productions.
‘Regional communities need places to gather, to commemorate and to celebrate.’
‘Renewing the Gympie Civic Centre after the 2022 floods is about restoring a cultural facility that will help breathe life back into the region’s heart’, Minister McBain said.
L to R Gympie Mayor Glen Hartwig, Council CEO Robert Jennings and Minister McBain. IMAGE: Vivienne Wynter
The Pineapple understands the restoration will keep Gympie Civic Centre’s existing shell and refit inside to meet modern compliance standards, modernise the interiors and upgrade audio visual equipment and acoustics.
The Civic Centre will be flood proofed with surfaces that can withstand water flowing through and may again be used as an evacuation centre in future floods as it was in 2022.
Gympie residents respond with mixed feelings
Gympie arts identity and event producer, Cindy Vogels, welcomed the announcement of the federal funding, saying ‘Gympie region has waited long enough. Now there’s work to do to prepare for the explosion of the arts and touring that’s been held back over the years.’
Cindy Vogels. IMAGE: Brea Martin
‘Gympie is a thriving arts destination and a haven and it’s about to get a lot more professional and prolific.’
Gympie resident Libby Schmidt echoed the comments of many residents on social media saying it was ‘About bloody time, too. It’s a disgrace that it’s taken this long.’
IMAGE at top of story L to R: Gympie Mayor Glen Hartwig and Federal Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories, Kristy McBain by Vivienne Wynter
