City contractors shortlisted for much-needed women’s facility Centre build local focus
THREE Townsville- based builders have been short-listed to construct a new $3.2 million women’s centre in Aitkenvale.
The Townsville Women’s Centre, which is in a dilapidated two-storey repurposed house in Patrick St, Aitkenvale, will move to the new site on the corner of Nathan and Charles streets next year, with construction expected to begin toward the end of this year.
Mundingburra MP Coralee O’rourke on Thursday revealed Woollam Constructions, Hutchinson Builders, and Paynters had been shortlisted as select tenderers to construct the centre.
The official builder is expected to be announced in October, once the tender process is complete.
It comes days after Ms O’rourke revealed an extra 1000sq m of land at the site, owned by the State Government, had been secured for the women’s centre, bringing its footprint to about 2000sq m.
Townsville Women’s Centre acting co-ordinator Di Plumb said there was “intense excitement” to see work start on the site.
Ms Plumb said there would be outdoor space and a garden at the new centre, and it was hoped a female GP could also come in to provide services to the women.
“Women often like to sit in the garden and speak to the worker they’re seeing at the centre, so it’s good to be able to provide that as well,” she said.
Ms Plumb said the centre staff had made a “significant contribution” to the overall design of the building. Ms O’rourke reiterated the building would be completely funded by the State Government, although a Federal Government contribution would be welcomed.
“Around 11 full-time equivalent jobs are expected to be created during the construction phase of this project, which is great news for local construction workers,” she said. “Construction is due to start on site by the end of the year, and the service should be operating out of the new building by the middle of next year.”
The State Government, in the recent budget, altered a funding agreement that unlocked $2.9 million with no strings attached instead of making the Women’s Centre match the money dollar-fordollar.