Unacceptable theatre delay

IT’S not good enough the new Cairns Performing Arts Centre has blown out by millions of dollars and has been delayed by more than a year.

The project has been through a thorough business case and planning and design process.

Now the Cairns Regional Council has revealed the cost has increased by at least $3.8 million and the opening, which was supposed to be August last year, is now not until September.

Construction hurdles have included more asbestos than predicted and foundation work hampered by poor ground conditions due to marine mud and a high water table.

The contractors also have added more back-of-house, dressing room and rehearsal facilities to “meet needs well into the future”.

The budget for CPAC and the adjacent Munro Martin Parklands has soared by nearly $14 million to $78.9m. CPAC is expected to total $68.9m.

Mayor Bob Manning says the project has not been “an exact science and it is very difficult to provide an exact timeline for construction of a building of this magnitude and complexity”.

In seems commonplace these days for complex construction projects to cost more and suffer delays.

But one observer has suggested one of the reasons for the setback has been because of the early removal of the costly tower crane to save money and the frequent use of mobile cranes to do the same work.

It is hoped the delays and the additions to CPAC are worth it and the city receives a venue that has been worth the wait and extra cost. Nick Dalton Deputy editor