Construction on MidCoast Council's new administration building on Biripi Way, Taree is due for completion in November, with staff scheduled to move in on January 4, 2021.
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A report on the progress of the Biripi Way head office project, which was adopted by councillors at the August 26 monthly ordinary meeting of council, showed it was tracking well and on budget.
An extension of nine days was awarded to head contractor, AW Edwards for construction, however this delay was not expected to impact the move-in date for staff as a contingency of five weeks had been allowed for.
The following works are now complete: site establishment; Construction Certificate 1; demolition; internal drainage excavation, installation and reinstate concrete; roof additional strengthening/structural works; removal of existing roof HVAC systems; set out of high-level services.
Other complete milestones for the project include appointment of the consultant team, functional brief, concept design, schematic design, design development, head contractor expressions of interest and head contractor tender.
Construction started on May 18, 2020, and is due for completion on November 19 (plus nine days).
Testing and onsite training is on track to be completed by December 31 and staff is expected to move into the building on January 4.
The building will be open to customers from January 7, 2021.
The next major milestone is the installation of internal walls which began during August.
The design and construction budget for the project is $18.646 million (excluding GST), including contingency.
This excludes information technology and audio visual costs which are budgeted separately.
Council has also allowed a further $1.4 million as additional contingency and for supporting works that may not fall under the construction contract.
That brings the total budget for the project to $20 million. To date $17 million has been committed and $2,531,945 has been spent.
It will be easier at Biripi Way as there will be more places to spread out and people can work in various locations.
- Steve Embry
The forecast to completion is $18.64 million, which is on budget.
The project involves design and construction of the new office space, catering for 412 staff, and includes a council chambers, meeting rooms, training rooms, collaboration spaces, quiet spaces, lunch room and associated supporting facilities, as well as a public cafe.
Councillor Peter Epov asked what measures were being undertaken to ensure the building was COVID-19 safe, specifically a planned hot desk system.
Corporate services director, Steve Embry said the approach would be the same way as they were managing across the multiple offices, including sufficient space for hand sanitiser.
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"It will be easier at Biripi Way as there will be more places to spread out and people can work in various locations," Mr Embry said.
He also said it wasn't specifically a hot desk system, but more activity based working where people could go to a desk and could be there the entire day. If they leave, someone else could use that space.
"We could look at extending the period of time people are at their work spaces."
General manager, Adrian Panuccio said council would be manage one site as opposed to the current one in Taree and three buildings in Forster.
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