Ten more companies shortlisted for the North Queensland Stadium project

Seven North Queensland businesses are part of a list of ten companies in the running to be either appointed as the quantity surveyor or audit programmer for the North Queensland Stadium project.

Minister for State Development, Dr Anthony Lynham, said the seven companies had offices in North Queensland, with six having an office in Townsville and one company with an office in Mackay.

Dr Lynham confirmed:

Thirteen companies expressed their interest for the quantity surveyor role and six were shortlisted. Fourteen companies threw their hat in the ring for the audit programmer role and four were shortlisted.

 

The shortlisted suppliers will now submit tenders over the coming months and the successful quantity surveyor and audit programmer are on track to be appointed by the end of the year.

 

The construction of the project will be delivered through a managing contractor two stage design and construction contract.

 

The North Queensland stadium project will create 750 jobs and the government has made it clear that we are looking for local jobs, local businesses and local alliances.

 

The Department of State Development will work very closely with the appointed managing contractor, anticipated to be selected in early 2017, to closely review the stadium work trade packages to maximise opportunities for local contractors and workers.

Minister Assisting the Premier on North Queensland and stadium champion, Coralee O’Rourke, said local businesses should take advantage of the opportunities available through the city-changing project.

Ms O’Rourke said:

This project is delivering the economic boost our state’s north needs, and I urge local businesses to be part of the action.

 

The stadium project will create jobs, develop our skilled workforce during both the design and construction stages and provide economic opportunity for years to come.

 

Local businesses can continue to register their capabilities and interest for the North Queensland Stadium work packages at northqueenslandstadium.icn.org.au/.

The six shortlisted quantity surveyors are:

• AECOM Cost Consulting (Brisbane and Townsville offices)
• Aquenta Consulting (Brisbane)
• Donald Cant Watts Corke Qld (Brisbane and Townsville offices)
• Gleeds in collaboration with local Townsville firm D. Neilsen & Associates (Brisbane)
• Rider Levett Bucknell Qld (RLB) (Brisbane and Townsville offices)
• WT Partnership (Brisbane and Townsville offices)

The shortlisted audit programmers are:

• Ranbury Management Group (Mackay and Brisbane offices)
• Resource Co-ordination Partnership (Brisbane and Townsville offices)
• Rowles Time Management (Brisbane)
• Tracey Brunstrom & Hammond (Brisbane and Townsville offices)

This announcement comes quick on the heels of last week’s news that four design companies have been shortlisted from a field of 17 international and national firms to tender for the principal consultant role for the A$250m North Queensland Stadium.

About the project

The 25,000-seat stadium will become a new home for the North Queensland Toyota Cowboys. The team’s current home, the Willows Sports Complex (also referred to as 1300Smiles Stadium), is a converted greyhound racing track located 15km from Townsville CBD.

The Queensland government has committed A$140m to support the development and the federal government has put forward A$100m through the Smart Cities Plan. The National Rugby League (NRL) and the North Queensland Toyota Cowboys have also pledged an upfront payment of A$10m. And Townsville City Council is contributing the land on which the stadium will be built on.

North Queensland Stadium is being jointly developed by the Queensland government, federal government and Townsville City Council.

Background on the four shortlisted design practices:

BVN Architecture was founded in Toowoomba 90 years ago and is one of Australia’s most awarded architectural practices, with a strong history in sports architecture. Their recent projects include Carrara Sports and Leisure Centre on the Gold Coast for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games and the State Netball Centre in Brisbane.

Cox Architecture has been at the forefront of sport architecture design for more than 40 years. Their recent projects include the Queensland State Velodrome in Brisbane and the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.

Hassell Ltd is a leading design practice and highly awarded for its work around Australia. They are currently the principal consultant for the new 60,000-seat Perth Stadium.

Populous has their Asia Pacific headquarters in Brisbane and has been designing award-winning rectangular stadia for 30 years. Their projects include the Gold Coast’s Cbus Super Stadium and the Forsyth Barr Stadium in New Zealand.

Image: Indicative design for a new stadium in Townsville by Cox Architecture, produced for a 2013 feasibility study by KPMG. Courtesy: Townsville Enterprise.

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