THE external renovation of Mount Gambier’s Civic Centre is taking shape, with installation of a mosaic of interlocking zinc panels well underway.
A joint project between Mount Gambier City Council and Country Arts SA, the $1.3m refurbishment will improve the deteriorating facade of the 36 year-old building and prevent further weather damage to existing cladding.
City Council regulatory services manager Michael Silvy said fixing the waterproof zinc panels to a steel and plywood frame to cover the existing tiles would be a 10 week process.
“We are in week three of what we anticipate will be a 10 week process, with around a third of three faces of the fly tower complete,” Mr Silvy told The Border Watch.
“We have three guys on site every day installing the panels and they are making good progress.”
Complex alterations to an elaborate scaffolding system delayed the project by approximately eight weeks, however Mr Silvy said loss of time penalties had been reduced.
“The extra $70,000 figure we estimated would be needed to cover scaffold hire and loss of time penalties for theatre schedule closures will be reduced whenever we make up more time,” he explained.
“At this stage we are making up plenty of time – the installation of the panels does not produce excessive noise so there has been no interruption to theatre performances but the theatre will be closed for a couple of weeks in mid-July.
“City Council will continue to work closely with Country Arts SA to minimise interruption and keep down time as low as possible.”
Mr Silvy said the renovated building would remain fire safe.
“After the Grenfell tower incident in London we have had a few queries regarding fire safety,” Mr Silvy said.
“I think to see a high rise building up in flames raised concerns about the new cladding we are installing.
“The zinc panels are non-combustible and the existing concrete panels which will remain underneath the new cladding are also fire resistant.”
The roof of the fly tower is also being replaced during the redevelopment process.
