Building kidzspace: Walsh & O'Meara take control

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Friday 9 December 2016

Written by Rod

Work on our new $2.6 million kidzspace centre at Kangaroo Flat is underway. In this new blog we meet the Bendigo builders and sub-contractors using their expertise to make our dream a reality.

BENDIGO construction company Walsh and O’Meara Builders is overseeing the creation of a revolutionary $2.6 million children’s health and wellbeing centre in Kangaroo Flat.

Due for completion in mid-October, the kidzspace Bendigo facility will be the first of its kind in regional Australia, offering a hub for child and family services across the region.

It is part of a new approach by Bendigo Community Health Services, which aims to the health, learning and earning outcomes of local children through early intervention and a multi-faceted approach.

Kidzspace Bendigo will be a one-stop-shop for a range of family health services and will emphasise the links between health promotion, community education, clinical services and social support.

“I think it is fantastic for the city of Bendigo and I fully support it,” says Walsh and O’Meara director and father-of-three Kevin Walsh.

As project manager, Kevin visits the Helm Street construction site most days and liaises with foreman Josh Sloane to ensure the build progresses smoothly.

“Our part is to organise the different sub-contractors to be there at certain times, and make sure the time lines are met,” he says.

Walsh and O’Meara has selected about 12 Bendigo-based sub-contractors for the kidzspace build, covering everything from excavation to electrical work, surveying to structural steel, and painting to plastering.

The company has been building mostly commercial and industrial projects in Bendigo since 1993 and presently has 12 employees.

Significant works over the years have included an extension to the Kangaroo Flat Sports Club, Interchange Loddon Mallee renovations in Mitchell Street, an English learning centre at Catholic College, the Living Well retirement village in Kangaroo Flat and Marist College in Maiden Gully.

Building kidzspace: MPB Electrical puts some spark into project

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Friday 9 December 2016

Written by Rod

Work on our new $2.6 million kidzspace centre at Kangaroo Flat is underway. In this new blog we meet the Bendigo builders and sub-contractors using their expertise to make our dream a reality.

THE electricity and data cables that will be hidden from view in the roof and wall cavities of the completed kidzspace Bendigo complex could be stretched out over several kilometres.

MPB Electrical is the company tasked with the mammoth job of wiring up the children’s health and wellbeing facility in Helm Street, Kangaroo Flat.

Director Matt Bolton will have up to four electricians on site at various stages throughout the project, and installing an upgraded main switchboard to power the building is their first job.

“We are also installing cabling underground to the new building, and connecting up all the wiring for the power and lighting. Then we’ll do the cabling for all the data points,” he says.

The Bendigo Community Health Services centre is a first in regional Australia, bringing community-based child and family education, early intervention, clinical services and support programs under one roof to improve the long-term outcomes for local youngsters.

It will help meet an expected increase in the need for specialist child health and wellbeing services as Bendigo’s population grows and is a key to BCHS’ vision of helping children reach their full potential.

Initially unaware what the complex was for and the positive impact it could have on future generations, Matt was happy to learn his company was contributing to a vital community hub.

“It does give you a sense of pride,” he says, adding that his firm has previously worked on other community-focused building projects for organisations like Anglicare.

MPB Electrical is a family-owned business that has operated in Bendigo for 13 years.

“I was born and bred here and am a second-generation electrician.”

Matt has three other qualified sparkies and three apprentices working alongside him, with wife Rachel taking care of the administration from their Adam Street office.

The $2.6 million kidzspace Bendigo development is expected to take about six months overall and is due to open in early 2017.

Building kidzspace: Plumbers get down to business

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Friday 9 December 2016

Written by Rod

Work on our new $2.6 million kidzspace centre at Kangaroo Flat is underway. In this new blog we meet the Bendigo builders and sub-contractors using their expertise to make our dream a reality.

SOMETIMES, making progress means making a mess.

That’s especially true for the firm taking care of plumbing at the kidzspace Bendigo construction site in Kangaroo Flat.

Prowse Plumbing is playing a major role in building the $2.6 million children’s health and wellbeing centre in Helm Street, starting with sanitary drainage work to connect waste water services to sewage mains.

“We were in there early making a mess out the front,” says Matt Prowse during the initial stage of the project.

The company is also responsible for hot and cold water services, stormwater collection and drainage, fire services, and roofing and metal wall cladding.

“The last thing we will do will be installing the hand basins, toilets and sinks, but we have to wait for almost everyone else to finish before we can get in and do that.”

Matt has worked as a plumber in Bendigo for 20 years. He set up his own business about 12 months ago and employs four local plumbers and apprentices.

Previous jobs include restoration work at the Bendigo Town Hall and upgrades and an amenities block at La Trobe University.

Kidzspace Bendigo will provide local families with a range of vital community health services aimed at improving the long-term outcomes for children throughout the city, and Matt said he was pleased to contribute to the project.

“Prowse Plumbing is proud to be involved with the construction of regional Victoria’s first kidzspace facility,” he said.

“It’s great to be a part of a community project that will help the local kids to reach their full potential.”

Building kidzspace: Weldone puts project in the frame

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Friday 9 December 2016

Written by Rod

Work on our new $2.6 million kidzspace centre at Kangaroo Flat is underway. In this new blog we meet the Bendigo builders and sub-contractors using their expertise to make our dream a reality.

THE new kidzspace Bendigo child health and wellbeing facility has really started to take shape since the Weldone Solutions team arrives on site this month.

Weldone is providing the structural steel that forms the skeleton of the building and is erecting the main framework in Helm Street, Kangaroo Flat, over the course of about 10 days.

Director Matt McNamara said kidzspace Bendigo was a large-scale project for his company, with around 22 tonnes of steel required to complete the job.

As a father of two primary-age children himself, Matt appreciates the importance of the landmark Bendigo Community Health Services centre, which will bring together specialist child health and wellbeing services under the one roof.

It aims to improve the long-term outcomes for children in Bendigo by offering a multitude of easy-to-access early intervention and support programs.

“It’s a good thing that we can be part of something that is going to change the way things are done for local children in the future,” Matt says.

Weldone has been operating in Bendigo since 2011 and employs seven people, providing fabrication and welding services to both domestic and commercial builders.

As well as structural steel, the company also specialises in sheds, stairs, handrails and balustrades.

Other major projects have included works for the new Bendigo and District Aboriginal Co-operative centre in Prouses Road, SuniTAFE in Swan Hill, and an education building for the St Anthony monastery in Heathcote. They have also contributed to St Liborius Primary in Eaglehawk, St Joseph’s Primary in Rochester and Charlton, as many residential projects.

The $2.6 million kidzspace Bendigo centre is scheduled to open early in 2017.

Building kidzspace: Earthmovers in for the long haul

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Friday 9 December 2016

Written by Rod

Work on our new $2.6 million kidzspace centre at Kangaroo Flat is underway. In this new blog we meet the Bendigo builders and sub-contractors using their expertise to make our dream a reality.

WHEN it comes to building the new innovative kidzspace Bendigo health and wellbeing centre, one local sub-contractor will be among the construction action from go to whoa.

“We were one of the first on site and will be among the last to leave,” says Bendigo Plant Hire director Adam Riley.

The earthmoving and equipment company is playing a big role in building a brighter future for local children, taking care of several steps throughout the six-month, $2.6 million project.

“We started off with the demolition works on site, removing trees and a shed, then went on to the site cut,” says Adam, explaining his role mostly covers the civil components of the job, as well as providing heavy machinery.

“We imported 300 cubic metres of clay from Maiden Gully to build the pad, then dug the footings through it.”

After a short break to allow other work to be completed, Bendigo Plant Hire also undertook storm water excavation, and underground hydraulic services.

They will return again towards the end of the build to construct the facility’s car park and driveway.

Bendigo Community Health Services is excited about the progress of its kidzspace centre, the first of its kind in regional Australia.

When opened in late 2016, it will provide a central hub for BCHS children’s and family services and aims to improve the health, education and overall life outcomes for local at-risk youngsters.

“I am well aware of the background to this project and I think it is fantastic,” says Adam of the plan to offer health practitioner and support services, as well as various other child-friendly programs, from the facility.

“Hopefully it will help streamline the processes there, by having everything under the one roof.

“And that will go a long way to making these services more accessible to families.”

Formerly known as KB Contractors, Bendigo Plant Hire is a family-run business started in 1984 by Adam’s father, Bill Riley. It has eight employees and is based in Myers Flat.

Kidzspace wish list - can you help us invest in Bendigo's future?

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Friday 9 December 2016

Written by Rod

Bendigo Community Health Services is building a new $2.6 million kidzspace centre at our Helm Street site in Kangaroo Flat.

The project is due for completion in December this year.

Investing in Bendigo’s future... kidzspace will bring all our children and family support services together under a model that is a first for regional Australia.

kidzspace is being designed to challenge the traditional life paths for those born into disadvantage and allow children of all ages to reach their full potential.

Together we can make change!

A huge thank you to the Victorian government for funding the $2.6 million kidzspace build.

We are already seeing increased demand for our family and children’s services, so we need community  support to purchase extra fittings and outdoor  features such as a playground and landscaping.

How you can help kidzspace...

Can you help with any of the items on our  kidzspace Bendigo wish list below?

Please contact Bendigo Community Health Services executive director Callum Wright on 5434 4329 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. today.

Kitchen appliances

Our new community kitchen will need  big and small items such as a commercial rangehood, gas hotplates, electric oven, microwaves, double-door glass fridges, plates, bowls, utensils, cups, glasses, tea towels and smaller  appliances such as a coffee machine, kettles and toasters. These will allow us to make the community kitchen a space for people to learn to cook and share food. 

Water tanks

Water tanks in our community garden will allow BCHS to host programs to encourage the broader community to grow healthy food. The food can then be prepared in the adjoining kidzspace community kitchen as part of our healthy cooking and eating programs. The community garden will be designed to help organisations supporting children with disabilities.

Furniture of all shapes and sizes

Bean bags, ottomans, lounge chairs, couches, cushions, artificial plants, bar fridge, coffee tables, kitchen table and chairs, modular benches, stackable tables, plastic chairs, cupboards, whiteboards and work desks for children and offices.

Shed and plants

A new garden shed will be used to store tools related to the kidzspace community garden. The shed will provide the community with access to everything they need to use the space after-hours and on weekends while the plants will give the garden a start.

Playground

The feedback from children about what they would like to see in the kidzspace design was clear ... A PLAYGROUND! With that in mind, we’d like to provide the biggest and best playground we can afford. Can you help us out?

Outdoor seating

We’d like to place some seating in the main courtyard for a quiet space. 

Flatscreen TV

We need 140cm or above flat screen televisions for the community areas.  These will be dynamic noticeboards for the community, children and families. These are a key tool in ensuring that all children and families are aware of all the services and programs available.

Graffiti artist

We are looking for a graffiti artist to paint a special wall at kidzspace.

Cash donation

Maybe you would prefer to provide a cash donation to allow us to purchase any of the items listed above or to help with kidzspace into the future.

Building kidzspace: Project design in good hands

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Friday 9 December 2016

Written by Rod

Work on our new $2.6 million kidzspace centre at Kangaroo Flat is underway. In this new blog we meet the Bendigo builders and sub-contractors using their expertise to make our dream a reality.

FLEXIBILITY, safety and accessibility were key considerations in designing the landmark Kidzspace children’s and family services centre that is under construction in Kangaroo Flat.

CBA Building Designers accepted the brief to create a state-of-the-art community-focused building that was open, inviting and ever-changing, with spaces that could evolve with the needs of the public and user groups.

Shane DeAraugo and Simon Bedson took about eight months to come up with final plans for the Bendigo Community Health Services facility, which is due to be completed in October.

It will house a range of health and allied services aimed at improving the long-term outcomes for vulnerable local families, as well as hosting various community activities for children.

Kidzspace in Helm Street will be the first centre of its kind in regional Australia and the designers say they are pleased to be involved in such a revolutionary project.

“It’s a way of giving back and supporting the growth and development of our community, in particular our kids,” Shane and Simon agree.

“Providing safe and inviting environments is important.”

CBA Building Designers provided a total master plan for the site moving into the future, instead of simply creating a single building on a parcel of land.

But the job was not without its challenges.

“Every public building has its design issues, restrictions or limitations and this site and project was no different.

“Key points included budget and time constraints, ageing of the existing building stock, limited and sub-compliant services, a limited open site area with restricted access, and an existing public building that must remain open during construction works.

“The project was purpose designed to flow with the existing building stock while also working with all future stages to the site and master plan.

“The construction method was also critical to provide minimal disruption to the site and the day-to-day workings of the operations within.

“As a result, a portal frame design evolved which gave us the opportunity to provide exciting spaces and visual statements, to provide the building with its own identity and presence.”

CBA Building Designers has undertaken many other community and public projects for organisations including St Luke’s, headspace, BCHS, Doxa School, the Catholic Education Office and Interchange Loddon Mallee Region.

Director Shane DeAraugo has also taken part in an executive sleep-out to promote awareness of homelessness.

“One of our principles in business is “family first”: whether it’s committing to family holidays or caring for an ill child, that will always be first, and our community involvement and activities is just a natural extension of that.”

Building kidzspace: Bolands take care of ceilings and walls

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Friday 9 December 2016

Written by Rod

Work on our new $2.6 million kidzspace centre at Kangaroo Flat is underway. In this new blog we meet the Bendigo builders and sub-contractors using their expertise to make our dream a reality.

About 2500 square metres of plasterboard will be used inside the new kidzspace Bendigo facility being built in Kangaroo Flat to house a range of crucial children’s and family services and programs.

And the job of hanging it, along with installing insulation throughout the pioneering Bendigo Community Health Services building, rests with the team from Bolands Plaster Service.

Director Peter Boland said the company would use the 10mm plasterboard to create suspended ceilings and interior walls in the many different areas of the multi-disciplinary complex that is slowly taking shape in Helm Street.

Kidzspace will be the first centre of its kind in regional Australia, bringing clinical, counselling, education, social support and early intervention services for vulnerable families together under the one roof.

By working collaboratively with parents and children from the earliest point of referral, BCHS hopes to invoke generational change and improve their long-term health and wellbeing outcomes.

Bolands Plaster will help shape the individual rooms and spaces inside kidzspace Bendigo.

As well as ceilings, walls, waterproof plasterboard in wet areas, beading and cornices, the company is also responsible for putting insulation inside the ceiling space and exterior and interior wall cavities.

The family business has operated in Bendigo for 50 years, with Peter taking over from his father about a decade ago. It employs about 15 plasterers and office staff.

Bolands Plaster is one of about a dozen local sub-contractors involved in the Kidzspace Bendigo project, which is being overseen by Walsh and O’Meara Builders.

Building kidzspace: Bendigo surveyors make sure there are no Building Issues with project

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Friday 9 December 2016

Written by Rod

Work on our new $2.6 million kidzspace centre at Kangaroo Flat is underway. In this new blog we meet the Bendigo builders and sub-contractors using their expertise to make our dream a reality.

BEFORE first sod of soil was even turned on the Bendigo Community Health Services kidzspace children’s health and wellbeing centre, a mountain of work had already been done.

With strict regulations governing each step of the process, it was up to surveying company Building Issues to ensure the initial design of the facility met the code requirements.

“We have the overall role as certifier,” says project building surveyor Daniel Spence.

“In the pre-permit phase, we acted as a consultant working through each design discipline to guide the design towards compliance with the relevant codes and controls, then as a private building surveyor we were able to issue the building permit to allow works to commence.”

But the firm’s involvement doesn’t end there.

During the six months of construction, Building Issues will conduct up to 10 inspections on foundations/excavations, footings and framework, as well as signing off on the final product and issuing an occupancy permit.

Daniel says this covers everything from emergency exits, lighting and signs, fire safety and protection systems, disability access and general amenities throughout the building.

“So far, it has been a fairly smooth process for a project of its size, but when you have a consortium of good designers, it makes things easier,” he says.

The $2.6 million kidzspace Bendigo centre will provide a range of centralised children’s and family services at the Helm Street site in Kangaroo Flat.

It is part a new approach by BCHS to improving the health and wellbeing of the region’s at-risk families by offering early intervention and easily accessible programs.

Building Issues has extensive experience in health sector construction, having been involved in hospital redevelopments in Kerang, Boort and Numurkah as well as the development of a multi-storey medical centre in Mollison Street, Bendigo.

It has also consulted on education facilities, prison redevelopments and commercial and residential complexes.

Established in 1999, it has 13 experienced staff across offices in Bendigo, Echuca and Shepparton.

Daniel says kidzspace Bendigo is an interesting project to be involved in.

“It is very satisfying to know that this will make a difference to future generations of children and we are playing our small part in that.”

Building kidzspace: Tuddenhams have floors covered

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Friday 9 December 2016

Written by Rod

Work on our new $2.6 million kidzspace centre at Kangaroo Flat is underway. In this new blog we meet the Bendigo builders and sub-contractors using their expertise to make our dream a reality.

 WHEN children and families walk into the new Kidzspace centre in Kangaroo Flat, they will step straight onto the handiwork of Tuddenhams Flooring Centre.

The local business has been sub-contracted to supply floor coverings for the Bendigo Community Health Services facility that aims to build a brighter future for youngsters across the region.

Tuddenhams will lay about 550 square metres of carpet tiles and 160 lineal metres of vinyl – three different designs of each - throughout the Helm Street building, as well as vinyl planks and entrance mats.

“It’s quite a big project for us,” says administration officer Teresa Hammer.

“But this is a great project for Bendigo and for all the families in the area that will use the centre.”

Kidzspace is a multi-million-dollar building that will house BCHS children’s and family services programs, as well as a range of other community activities.

It is the first of its kind in regional Australia and will make vital services for families in need easily accessible, based on the premise that any child can reach their full potential if supported to do so.

The facility is due to be completed in November.

Tuddenhams Flooring Centre is owned by Peter Taylor and Christine Thorne and has operated from its Contempo Court site for the past seven years.