Stage one of sound shell complete

Supporters of the Nelson Reserve sound shell at the opening of Stage One included (from left) Kim Crawford (Skill Centred), Lex Townsend (Gympie Rotary president), Brendan Cuddihy (Gympie-Cooloola Rotary president), Daryl Blacker (Apex), Gympie Regional Mayor Ron Dyne, Sam Johnston and Andrew Brook (building contractors), and Edgar Leucht (Supacoat).

David Crossley

FIRST stage of construction for the Nelson Reserve Sound Shell is now complete and ready to be used for concerts, bands, plays, parades and other community events.

Envisaged to be constructed in two stages, now that block work and walls are complete, the open public facility is functional and ready for use.

To date the project has only cost about $40,000, due in a large way to the generous donations of many businesses of material, man power and equipment.

The sound shell is a Gympie multi-service club project initiated by Rotary with support from Apex and Lions, and was used for the first time this week with an opening night attended by members of the Rotary clubs of Gympie and Gympie Cooloola, Gympie Apex, Gympie Regional Council and volunteers who worked on the project, all enjoying a barbecue at the Nelson Reserve site. Entertainment was provided members of the Gympie Institute of Country Music band.

Design of the sound shell was provided pro-bono by Keystone Architects and has a large cantilever awning at the front.

The roof will have structural capabilities at the front and back to allow for lighting and backdrops. The building is designed to enhance stage acoustics, and the overall design is to fit in with existing Nelson Reserve facilities.

Construction started in December 2009 and has received donations and materials from a variety of businesses.

A number of tradespeople have also volunteered their skills and time towards the first stage of construction.

There have been many contributors to the Sound Shell project including Keystone Architects, Reinmac Engineers, Budget Steel, Kim McCarthy Surveys, Cooloola Civil Constructions, Medialoco Builders, Gympie Blockworks, Integra Concrete, Kelly Green Crane Hire, Fader Hill, Gympie Regional Council, Meals Concrete Pumping, Andrew Brook Construction, Sam Johnson and Skill Centred Queensland. The construction is managed and supervised by Skill Centred Queensland.

Gympie Rotary Club president Lex Townsend said it was a great achievement to have the building ready for its first event.

He said the roof construction required a substantial amount of money and Rotary was working with council to source funds to complete the project.