SOUTH East timber could be at the heart of Mount Gambier’s multi-million-dollar Community and Recreation Hub after City Council endorsed an investigation into its use for both construction and design elements.
In a move since backed by industry stakeholders, elected members permitted council to explore the use of the region’s timber supplies in the final build at Tuesday night’s council meeting.
Council Community and Recreation Hub committee presiding member Ben Hood called for the use of local timber to be investigated given the city was “proud of their timber industry”.
“As a timber region I think it is important we promote and utilise timber in creative and innovative ways within the centre,” Cr Hood said.
“It would be an important feature and the council see it as an important feature for the centre.”
Interim chief executive Graham Maxwell said there were two aspects for the use of timber within the centre design.
“One will be a feature and one is possibly structural,” Mr Maxwell said.
“There will be aspects of feature walls with a timber finish and we are in the early stages of looking at those designs rather than the decision-making stage.”
A study is planned to establish whether the use of timber will be more effective than steel with council to determine whether the two are comparable in structural capability.
“The current study will take a few weeks but once confirmation of the Federal funding is announced, the architects will get into more detailed design work.”
Council has allocated $66,000 towards its preliminary works package for the centre, with the timber feasability review expected to cost $25,000.
The sum also covers the production of engineering documentation and cost certainty of a timber structure.
Council consultants will work with timber industry specialists to obtain information which will informe future decision making.
Also included in the early works outlay is flow testing, electricity, sewerage and geotechnical testing, with these duties able to start at any time.
The council committee has carried out research into other similar centres to help shape future plans.
“I think the amount of intelligence they are gathering from others about what works and what does not is coming back great,” Mr Maxwell said.
Support for timber feature in the centre has been expressed in the industry as well as within the council, with timber workers’ union leader Brad Coates supporting the idea.
“It is a really good thing to highlight the product of timber that is produced in the local area,” Mr Coates said.
” City Council should adopt a similar policy as the Wattle Range Council that where possible, they produce and use local products.
“It is a great thing if council uses local produces as a design for the recreation centre.”
Mr Coates explained timber was sufficient for structures in all areas as it is a flexible resource.
“Even the cross laminated timber is around thirty-times higher than steel,” he said.
“Timber is also carbon thick so the environment aspects of it far outweighs steel and concrete.”
