The sod was turned at the King Island Hub in the Currie Lighthouse precinct yesterday – the culmination of five years work to see the commencement of the $5m build.
A sod-turning ceremony is a traditional ceremony in many cultures that celebrates the first day of construction for a building or other project.
Such ceremonies are often attended by dignitaries such as politicians and businesspeople.
Premier Jeremy Rockliff and Tasmanian Labor Senator Anne Urquhart and guests took part in the ceremony.
The Hub project team is enthusiastic about ensuring this new facility reflects the whole of King Island. This will be done not only in how the facility is managed and used, but also in how it is constructed.
The central fireplace will feature rock from the Grassy Scheelite mine, the display cabinet that wraps around the verandah will hold artefacts from our Island’s rich history and creative present, and statement pieces of furniture will be constructed from local materials, ideally by local artists.
Any community member who has a piece of King Island that could be used to showcase our Island in this way is encouraged to contact the project team by emailing the council.
The project team is particularly keen to collect local timbers, especially any timbers that may have washed free of the Naracoopa Jetty.
Since the approval of the development application in April 2023, the design team have
identified some improvements to the construction of the new build, including separating the earth berm from the side of the building, reducing the structural load and creating another point of interest in a small bridge over the gap to the rooftop lookout.
Conversations with key stakeholders continue around occupancy and the operations of the King Island Hub.
An MOU has been in place with KIRDO since 2021, but the project allows for more detailed commitments on how the space will be operated once construction is completed.
Community members are invited to share any suggestions for one-off or
regular events which could be hosted at the site by emailing kicouncil@kingisland.tas.gov.au.