News & Updates
The CCDC Limited is committed to keeping the Cobargo and surrounding community as well as visitors to the region up to date with our progress in rebuilding the main street. Keep an eye out for our community engagement events, sign up to our mailing list to receive project news and updates direct to your email inbox, read below for media releases on the project. For a general overview on the project click here.
November 2024
REBUILD COBARGO ADVANCES TO NEXT STAGE
The Cobargo Community Development Corporation Limited (CCDC) advises that as part of the Rebuild Cobargo contract, Monarch Building Solutions now has complete control of the Rebuild Cobargo sites.
This includes access to the sites and control over all building and construction related activities.
Following extensive works required to correct issues relating to drainage, ground water and sub-grade behind the Post Office and Market Hall sites, the Rebuild Cobargo projects are now progressing at full swing.
Through November, footings and slabs will be completed and the erection of walls and above ground level construction of the buildings will commence immediately following.
Since our last update significant milestones have been achieved including:
completion of Stage 1of the upgrade of the Council laneway giving access to the rear of the Market Hall and new Post Office sites
installation of large underground storm water retaining tanks at the rear of the Market Hall site
excavation, removal and disposal of excessive fill not needed on site
compaction and consolidation of subgrade and excavation of footing trenches in preparation for pouring of concrete slabs
TIME LAPSE CAMERAS
Community members may have observed that Monarch have installed on-site time-lapse cameras that will record the rebuild as it happens.
The cameras do not record continuous video or CCTV surveillance footage and are positioned and oriented to primarily capture the progress of each of the rebuild sites.
These cameras take a series of still photographs each day and will enable a time-lapse record of the rebuild which will be accessible on the CCDC Limited website by mid-November.
LOCAL TRADES
The CCDC Limited has continued to work with Monarch to ensure local Trades and Services with the required capability, capacity and qualifications have the opportunity to register interest in providing their services to the CCDC Rebuild Cobargo projects.
Expressions of interest are still open for some local trades and services, and interested providers can register via the website, simply click the LOCAL TRADES EOI tab on the home page.
REGISTERED CHARITY STATUS
The CCDC Limited is pleased to announce that it was recently approved by the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) and the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) as a Registered Charity.
This change in status will bring additional benefits to the CCDC Limited’s ongoing and future operations on behalf of the community and will further enhance the long-term community ownership and sustainability of the Rebuild Cobargo main street buildings once completed and operating.
For further information or if you have specific questions relating to the Rebuild Project, please get in contact to arrange a meeting with one of our Community Representative Directors via emailing: ccdclimited@gmail.com
One of the large underground stormwater retention tanks being installed last month
Concrete pour at market hall site
One of the time-lapse cameras now operating at the Rebuild Cobargo project
April 2024
FULL STEAM AHEAD FOR REBUILD COBARGO !
The construction phase of the Rebuild Cobargo Project, as announced by the Cobargo Community Development Corporation (CCDC), continues despite a change of builders.
While the original contractor unexpectedly went into voluntary liquidation in March, fortunately our project had negligible financial exposure, and we were able to quickly pivot to secure the services of an alternative builder to undertake the project build.
The CCDC has pleasure in announcing that Monarch Building Solutions Pty Ltd (Monarch) will now support the Cobargo Community as the building contractor to complete the Cobargo main street rebuild.
Following the completion of the underground power work by Essential Energy, and continuing on from the already completed pre-construction activities, Monarch expects to begin the main construction work later this month.
Monarch has confirmed that they are particularly keen to identify and use local trades people as far as is practicable. The Expression of Interest (EOI) webform for registration by local trades will be online early in May.
As we enter the project’s construction phase future community briefing activities will take a different form.
On 25 May 2024 the CCDC Board and representatives of Monarch will be at the Cobargo School of Arts Hall from 9.30am to 12 noon to meet individual community members and provide information about the rebuild and respond to specific questions.
This information session will also provide a valuable opportunity for trades people to speak directly with the builders.
Deb Summer
Steve Williams
Community Representative Directors
December 2023
CCDC Community Announcement
The Cobargo Community Development Corporation (CCDC) is pleased to announce that the construction contract for Rebuild Cobargo consisting of the Market Hall, Village Square and new Post Office, will commence in early 2024.
Following an extensive tender review process, building company Project Coordination (Australia) Pty Ltd has been selected as the successful contractor.
The tender review was undertaken by a team made up from the CCDC, our project manager Tracey Brunstrom & Hammond Pty Ltd (TBH) and project consultants. The review was overseen by NSW Public Works and Department of Regional NSW to ensure compliance with NSW Government procurement guidelines.
Enabling works (including site establishment) are proposed to commence in January 2024, and construction works will continue through 2024 and 2025 with forecast completion anticipated in mid-2025.
Preference will be given to suitably qualified and experienced local trades and services sub-contractors where available, as part of the tender requirements.
The Rebuild Cobargo project is being funded by the Australian and NSW governments under the Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Fund.
Designed by NSW Heritage award winning architects Dunn Hillam Architects, the project will create three new buildings including associated car parking and landscaped areas, offering the community an exciting, accessible, and inclusive town centre with contemporary amenities and services.
The two-level buildings will also provide much needed residential accommodation on the upper levels for the local community in the form of five large apartments, including some being designed to comply with NDIS standards.
The CCDC thanks the community for its patience as it has awaited the completion of the many complex layers of community engagement, planning, design, approval and tender processes involved in the Rebuild Cobargo project to date, and looks forward to this exciting new phase as construction commences.
For more information please visit: www.projectcoordination.com.au
December 2023
PIA Award
We are delighted to share the news that REBUILD COBARGO has won a prestigious project planning award this week from Planning Institute of Australia (PIA) in the NSW Division For Planning Excellence in the Community Wellbeing and Diversity category.
The award was presented to SJB Planners, Dunn Hillam Architects and the CCDC Limited by the Hon. Paul Scully MP, Minister for Planning and Public Spaces at last Thursday night's award event held at the Ivy Ballroom, Sydney.
The Community Wellbeing and Diversity category was highly contested with 9 very high quality entries, and the CCDC Limited and its planning and architectural partners were delighted that the judges selected the REBUILD COBARGO project as the winner.
The judges made the following comments about our project:
Awarding the Rebuild Cobargo project is recognition of the social and cultural inclusiveness of the project’s design and delivery during a challenging time for the community. Regular and often engagement with the local community and business owners informed key design elements of the project.
The design champions active uses aligned to community resilience and aspirations for the future such as a training café, village square, co-working space, and open-air market area for local produce.
At a time when more extreme weather events, such as bushfires and floods, are becoming more frequent, the Rebuild Cobargo project provides a model to build back better in a way that prioritises increasing community resilience and future needs. It shows the important role of inclusive, community-led planning in a post-disaster context.
For more information, please visit: www.planning.org.au/aboutpianew/nsw-2/nsw-awardsevening-2023
PIA AWARDS BOOKLET
www.planning.org.au/documents/item/12709
On stage receiving award from Minister for Planning adn public space the Hon. Paul Scully
Click here for PIA-planning-excellence-awards-criteria
July 2023
Tenders have gone out!
Following the successful release of the DA at last month’s Council General meeting, we can confirm tenders have now gone out to the selected group of certified building companies short listed, with a tender evaluation closing date of late September.
27 July
2023
Media
Release
REBUILD PROJECT GETS THE TICK FROM BEGA VALLEY COUNCIL !
The future of Cobargo took a major step forward this week with the Bega Valley Shire Council’s approval of the Development Application for the Village Square project for the western side of the of the village’s main street.
Photo:The CCDC board and architect Ashley Dunn, at the BVSC chambers after the DA decision (from left, Chair John Walters, directors Debra Summer, Shona Taranto and June Tarlinton, project architect Ashley Dunn, directors Graham Parr, Mickael Pryke, David Ledsam and Narelle Cooper.
21 July 2023 Community Update
Dear Community,
The three Rebuild Cobargo Project Development Applications (DAs) were submitted by the CCDC to Council on 22 November 2022, approximately nine months ago.
We very pleased to be able to finally share the following update with the community:
The Village Square DA (Western side of the main street) is set to go to this month's (July) Council meeting for determination.
The Post Office / Market Hall (Eastern Side of the main street) DAs are anticipated at this stage to go to the following Council meeting in August for determination.
We strongly urge you to write to BVSC Councillors to express your support for the Rebuild Project and to highlight the vital importance to the community of the swift determination of the Project DAs.
Councillors contact details are available via the Council website and via the following link:
https://begavalley.nsw.gov.au/council/meet-your-councillors-and-mayor
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who has shared their many letters of support to Council for the Rebuild Project. We value and appreciate your ongoing support.
November 2022
Annual Review Information Session for Community Saturday 19 November 2022 at the Cobargo Hotel
Presentation, including an overview of the key milestones of the project, CCDC plans for the next 12 months and the focus on the financial security of the REBUILD COBARGO project. Click on the CCDC Logo image to download a pdf.
16 November 2022 Inaugural AGM
The CCDC Limited held its inaugural AGM on the 16th of November, with the Board and member representatives from the CQBRG Incorporated and Cobargo Co-Operative Society Limited. The CCDC’s Acting Chairperson’s Report and Treasurer’s Report were tabled and are now available. The Chairperson’s report details an overview of the work undertaken by the CCDC Board, our project management team, architects, consultants and project stakeholders over the past financial year. The CCDC accounts have also been audited by Kothes Accounting Group. Click on the CCDC Logo image to download a pdf.
October 2022
Development Applications Lodged
The CCDC Limited Board is excited to let the community know that it has now lodged the Development Applications for the main street REBUILD COBARGO projects on the NSW Planning Portal.
The three DA’s for the Village Square, Market Place and new Post Office projects will shortly be loaded on the
DA Tracker on the Bega Valley Shire Council website and will then be available for public inspection and comment.A huge amount of work and effort by the board of voluntary directors, our architects Dunn & Hillam and our TBH Project Management team has finally come together to deliver this result, we thank them sincerely. We also thank the many members of the community who have attended our consultation events and contributed their views over the past 2 years.
Impression of the proposed Village Square buildings for the western side of the main street
Impression of the proposed Market Hall and new Post Office buildings for the eastern side of the main street
June 2022
Community Consultation Day Saturday 22 June 2022 at School of Arts Hall, Cobargo
Presentation by Dunn and Hillam Architects, Q & A session and unveiling of artist impression and streetscape modelling of the proposed developments.
Over 40 community members attended …
Click on the PowerPoint Presentation image to watch the video recording.
March 2022
Community Consultation Day Saturday 19th March at School of Arts Hall
‘Meet the Architects’ and a Q and A session and review of progress of the project to date.
Over 70 community members attended
Click on the PowerPoint Presentation image to watch the video recording.
November 2021 February 2022
Throughout the month, we continued our informal engagement and consultation with the community through regular Saturday morning sessions conducted at Well Thumbed Books and Valiant Coffee Van
September and October 2021
Distributed, analysed and collated a Community Survey with 120 respondents. Part of this is collated in the attached ‘Mural’ Document (Click on the image to view the Mural)
Community Consultation Event held via Zoom on Saturday 23 October 2021
Presentation of the CCDC entity structure and introduction of the Board of directors, overview of business case and plan for REBUILD COBARGO (main street rebuild) projects.
Over 60 community members attended
We apologise for the technical difficulties encountered with this online event and thank those in attendance for their patience whilst we regrouped and delivered the Q and A session.
Video TaKt Architects
Takt Architects introduce themselves and their work. This dynamic husband and wife team talk to the work behind the concept designs put together for the initial BLERF grant submission.
Click on the PowerPoint Presentation image to watch the video recording.
July 2021
Announcement by Government of successful $9.62 million Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Fund grant for the REBUILD COBARGO project
April 2021
REBUILD COBARGO Summary Publication to assist with the community understanding of the proposed concepts and rebuild strategy put forward by the CCDC. Includes an overview of the CCDC Limited governance structure.
January 2021
Completion and lodgement of Bushfire Local Economic Recovery funding submissions.
November 2020
Community Consultation 3 day event at the Cobargo Showgrounds facilitated by Australian Business Volunteers (ABV). This event included an array of local community groups work and visions for projects to aid in bushfire recovery. Group workshops were held to further articulate and refine projects and importantly to collect community feedback and input. Cobargo Quaama Business Recovery Group Inc. displayed the plans for the REBUILD COBARGO main street rebuild for public comment and feedback as part of this event.
Appointment of TAKT Architects to execute concept designs for the REBUILD COBARGO project (main street rebuild) BLER Funding submission.
Appointment of Tracey Brunstrom & Hammond Consulting (TBH), project managment firm to advise on engineering and costing of the draft concept designs for the BLERF submission.
July 2020
Community Consultation Survey – design and distribution of Rebuild Cobargo community survey
Collation and integration of community survey into design concepts for the BLER fund submissions.
January and February 2020
Formation of the main street building owner’s subcommittee and meetings with key stakeholders to define the needs of the project.
Liaised with representatives of Federal National Bushfire Recovery Agency (NBRA) in relation to the BLER Fund
Consultation with other local community led recovery groups to ensure alignment with other proposals and the “overarching strategy” for Cobargo.