Geelong major projects roll on amid COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic hasn’t halted progress on two major commercial building projects remaking parts of central Geelong.

Quintessential Equity executive chairman Shane Quinn says work on the head office of health insurer GMHBA and the Civic Precinct for City of Greater Geelong is advancing as scheduled despite the health crisis.

The developer estimates the projects, worth a combined $300 million, would need a workforce between 1500 and 2000 people during construction, creating hundreds of local jobs.

At the peak of construction, about 250 workers would be on site, Quinn says.

“Our development partners, GMHBA and the council want the community to know that they are continuing on through this time. That there are going to be jobs and there is prosperity in Geelong that will continue,” Quinn says.

Kane Constructions has been appointed as to deliver the $85 million GMHBA headquarters at 60 Moorabool St, Geelong.

“Our GMHBA and City of Greater Geelong projects hold great significance and despite the challenges of COVID-19, we remain fully committed to our development partners, builders, consultants and the wider community.”

Quinn says there has been minimal disruption so far amid the pandemic.

Kane Constructions is ahead of schedule on the GMHBA site at 60 Moorabool St where demolition work finished recently, Quinn says.

Quintessential is also working to maximise the role of Geelong advanced manufacturers (for key products like cross-laminated timber, for example), suppliers and workers to deliver the projects, with 43% of the construction cost of the Civic Precinct to be locally sourced.

Work continued on the foundations for the GMHBA building this week. Picture: Peter Ristevski

He says Kane Constructions aims to have 60% of its GMHBA workforce from Geelong.

The Civic Precinct site at 137 Mercer St will hold two buildings and a new public space.

It will bring council staff from seven CBD sites into one building, with the other to be owned by Quintessential.

Shane Quinn said local advanced manufacturers could have role in supplying produces, like cross laminated timber which is part of the Cox Architects design for the Civic Precinct buildings.

Talks are at an advanced stage with three businesses to lease signficant space in the second office tower next to the council headquarters in Mercer St.

Construction on the council building at the Civic Precinct was expected to begin in mid-2020, with completion mid-2022.

He says the second building could be constructed concurrently, depending on the outcome of advanced leasing talks with several businesses.

“That’s our building and we are in talks advanced talks with three groups on that building that would be substantially leased,” Quinn says.

“Those talks were leading into this period and are still continuing at this point.

The Civic Precinct will bring council staff from seven CBD locations.

“Those businesses know that regardless of what happens now, come 2.5 years’ time when those buildings are complete, they are going to need accommodation for their staff.”

Quinn says talks are continuing with several tenants to lease the two remaining floors in the GMHBA building.

While GMHBA will be the anchor tenant, Victoria Corporate Serviced Offices and Morris Finance have also leased space.

Construction is estimated to finish in 2021.

This article from the Geelong Advertiser originally appeared as “COVID-19: Pandemic won’t impact $300m Geelong office tower projects, developer declares”.