Civic Square redevelopment underway
Published on 10 July 2017
The City of Launceston is pleased to advise that Vos Construction and Joinery has today started work in Civic Square as part of a major redevelopment of the space.
The Launceston City Heart Project aims to make central Launceston the premiere business, retail and lifestyle hub of Northern Tasmania.
The project comprises the redevelopment of public spaces across the CBD including the Quadrant Mall, Civic Square, the Brisbane Street Mall, and others, and has been incorporated into the Launceston City Deal.
The ideas and feedback of more than 6000 Northern Tasmanians have been used to inform the redesign of the city's public spaces.
The Civic Square project is the largest open public space in the CBD at 4500 square metres.
During the award-winning public consultation process launched by the Council in 2014 for the Launceston City Heart Project, it was also the most talked about public space.
The redevelopment will be the largest Civic Square has seen since it was first declared "a place for people" in 1982.
It will be redeveloped into three linked spaces, comprising an events space with associated infrastructure like three-phase power, a family play area, and a dining and social gathering space.
The redevelopment works will include the installation of 15 new stormwater pits, 21 dynamic lighting poles, two catenary lighting systems, 176m of LED strip lights and 10 umbrellas.
Launceston Mayor Albert van Zetten said the start of work in Civic Square was exciting.
"The design that has been drawn up for Civic Square is striking and contemporary, but it also has a nod to our past through symbolic references to the city's medical innovations, the streetscape of early Launceston, and the city's relationship to the three river systems that converge here.," Mayor van Zetten said.
"It follows on from the successful revamp of the Quadrant Mall last year, and will allow Civic Square to be used in new ways that have not been possible before.
"The work in Civic Square will proceed throughout the remainder of 2017 and we hope to have it complete in early 2018.
"While work is underway, we're going to be working hard to ensure people always have access to important buildings in the square including Henty House, the Launceston LINC and the Town Hall.
"We'll be posting regular updates on our website and social media accounts, so stay tuned as this exciting project gets underway."