Council staff to do CBD revamp
12.01.2005
By DANIEL SANKEY
IPSWICH City Council will begin its upgrade of the Ipswich Mall in March, with council's day labour force to undertake the construction work.
The final designs for the new-look mall and d'Arcy Doyle Place construction project are a merger of the most popular aspects of the three options displayed at Ipswich Art Gallery and in the River Heart office last year.
The $7.9 million phase one of River Heart has been funded by the state government ($3.3 million) and Ipswich City Council ($3 million), with $1.6 million coming from CBD landholders through the CBD levy.
Work is expected to start on d’Arcy Doyle Place in August, and along with the mall, will be completed in November.
The massive increase in building activity in the Ipswich region forced the council to reconsider plans to outsource construction work.
Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisasale said huge increases in labour costs in the building industry had convinced council to use its own skilled labour.
"They (council workers) do a fantastic job. Using our own staff will ensure the quality of the works and it will help us maintain close consultation with traders throughout the River Heart Phase One works," he said.
Cr Pisasale said more than 100 responses to a River Heart design questionnaire had been received, with the overwhelming view being that the most popular aspects of the three options displayed last year should be included in the final plan.
The main features of the final plan for the Ipswich Mall include:
A "City Mall Lawn" featured in a more open mall design;
The retention of the existing heritage-styled rotunda;
Flower tubs as a feature along the mall;
Shade trees outside the Commonwealth Bank building;
The relocation of the obelisk to Queens Park;
The relocation of the Police Beat and Safe City Monitoring Centre to the Pender Arcade in the mall; and
Reconstruction of the pavement using a variety of surfaces.
As detailed in public displays, the design for d'Arcy Doyle Place involves levelling the ground from Brisbane Street towards the sail structure to create a "Gallery Lawn".
Cr Pisasale said the enhancement of open space would create a more family-friendly, vibrant CBD.
Works on d'Arcy Doyle Place include:
Moving the fountain sculptures to the Limestone Street end of d'Arcy Doyle Place;
Moving the fig tree at the Brisbane Street end to the new river parklands;
Restructuring pavement at Brisbane Street to improve ac-cess from St Paul's Church;
Installing theatre lighting to enhance use of the Gallery Lawn in the evening; and
The opportunity to relocate the Blackall Monument in the future.
The River Parklands project will be undertaken as a separate project to other elements of River Heart Phase One.
"Feedback from the community gave a strong vote in favour of the 'River Terraces' option for the River Parklands," Cr Pisasale said.
"The braided patterns of the water-side plantings and curved timber boardwalks, which reflect the moving ripples of the river, proved popular with the community.
"The boardwalk varies in elevation to provide access to the different levels of the water terraces and allows close inspection of the wetland plants and water edge treatments."
Final designs can be viewed at the River Heart office at d'Arcy Doyle Place.
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