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.”