Chairman's Report
To the Freemasons of the ACT and all those who regularly meet at the Canberra Masonic Centre Barton.
On behalf of the CMC Board, we intend publishing new photos and a short report on the progress of construction during the coming months and the RGC has kindly agreed to place these on the Region 10 website courtesy of VW Bro Geoff Ludowyk.
As we are in “catch-up” mode for these I will briefly describe the progress thus far and allow the photos to tell the story.
Although we vacated the old building at the end of June 2008, and our intention was to commence the redevelopment as soon as we were able after that date, progress on securing appropriate finance proved more difficult than we had planned.
We were eventually successful, engaging Balmain Commercial Financial Services with David Kimmorley, and Bankwest as the finance provider.
Just as we were about to commit, the world financial markets went into meltdown. Bankwest stood by their proposal and we were ready to go.
Our construction company HDL had been busy organising the trade packages so we were able to commence the demolition in October after contracts were signed.
The photos taken since then tell the story and now provide a pictorial history of the progress.
The current construction report sees the project some 4 weeks behind schedule due to unexpected blue stone being encountered at the lower basement carpark level. The Project Manager however is confident that the practical completion date of 24 February 2010 will still be met.
The ground level slab will be completed in late May in time for the Grand Master to “set the foundation stone” in what will be the foyer of the building on Saturday 6 June. Preparations for this ceremony and planning for the dinner that night at Brassey House are in capable hands and news will be published as soon as possible.
News on prospective tenants remain a work in progress.
Greg Nason
Chairman
21 April 2009