AOC APPOINTS PROJECT MANAGER AND HOLDS MILESTONE STARTUP MEETING

The Australian Opal Centre (AOC) has announced the appointment of Root Partnerships as Project Manager for its new multi-million-dollar, energy-efficient building and held the historic startup meeting for this nationally-significant regional cultural infrastructure project.

Sydney-based Root Partnerships has 25 years of project management experience in major building and infrastructure projects in the civic, arts and cultural sectors. Clients include the Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney Opera House, Australian War Memorial, Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, and diverse regional Australian projects.

Root Partnerships specialise in projects of functional and stakeholder complexity, intense community focus, world class design aspirations and fitouts with high educational and cultural aspirations – all hallmarks of the new AOC.

Root Partnerships’ AOC project management team in the site of the largely subterranean new AOC building at Lightning Ridge. From left: Abigail Cohen (Project Support), Sarah Mulcahy (Project Leader, Design), Brayden Kenny (Project Leader, Constructi… — Root Partnerships’ AOC project management team in the site of the largely subterranean new AOC building at Lightning Ridge. *From left:* Abigail Cohen (Project Support), Sarah Mulcahy (Project Leader, Design), Brayden Kenny (Project Leader, Construction), Fiona Larkin (Project Director), and Chris Crick (Director). Photo J. Brammall

Of their appointment, Root Partnerships Director Chris Crick said: “We are extremely excited to win this project and look forward to working with the team at the AOC and esteemed architects Wendy Lewin and Glenn Murcutt.

“A project like this doesn’t come along very often – it is a great example of a place-making enabler, providing significant benefit to the local community and expanding the reach of specialist fields such as the opal industry. The AOC have worked tirelessly over the last 15 years to raise the necessary funds and we are thrilled to be partnering with them now to bring this project to fruition."

Pritzker Prize-winning architect Murcutt said he was delighted with the appointment, which comes after the March 2019 announcement of $20 million in funding for Stage 1 of the project.

“Our vision is coming to life. We look forward to working with Root Partnerships and our client to deliver the new Australian Opal Centre,” Murcutt said.

AOC Infrastructure Advisor, Darren Naumann AM, said the appointment was a significant milestone for the project.

“Appointing a project manager to guide the development and delivery of this facility is a major tangible step in a journey of more than a decade, driven by a tenacious grassroots AOC team,” Naumann said.

AOC President David Lane OAM congratulated Root Partnerships on their appointment from a large field of strong candidates.

“This appointment is fantastic news for AOC supporters and stakeholders, who can be confident our new national facility is on track for construction from mid-2020,” Lane said.

At the site of the new AOC on the Three Mile opal field, Lightning Ridge. From left: Jessica McDonald (Walgett Shire Council), Abigail Cohen, Fiona Larkin, Chris Crick (Root Partnerships), Wendy Lewin (Architect), Ashley Dunn (Dunn + Hillam Architec… — At the site of the new AOC on the Three Mile opal field, Lightning Ridge. *From left:* Jessica McDonald (Walgett Shire Council), Abigail Cohen, Fiona Larkin, Chris Crick (Root Partnerships), Wendy Lewin (Architect), Ashley Dunn (Dunn + Hillam Architects), Glenn Murcutt (Architect), Brayden Kenny, Sarah Mulcahy (Root Partnerships), David Lane (AOC), Darren Naumann (AOC), Jonathan Temple (Dunn + Hillam Architects) and Jenni Brammall (AOC). Photo R. Gawthorpe

On 15 October 2019, a project startup meeting in Lightning Ridge was attended by representatives of the AOC Building Subcommittee, lead architects Glenn Murcutt and Wendy Lewin, supporting architects Ashley Dunn and Jonathan Temple of Dunn + Hillam Architects, and the Root Partnerships’ AOC team.

During the visit, the group received a briefing on the building concept then toured the AOC development site, locally-constructed swimming pool and diving complex, concrete batching plant and other locations around Lightning Ridge, before conducting a formal startup meeting. The day concluded with a meal, a screening of SPARK cinema under the stars on the AOC site, and a spectacular opal field moonrise.

ABOUT THE AOC

The Australian Opal Centre will be a world centre for opal-related education and training, certification, scientific research, art and culture. It will provide a new model for sustainable building design in semi-arid Australia.

The AOC is expected to inject over $90 million and more than 300 jobs into the NSW economy during construction and up to $50 million per year thereafter, providing a catalyst for renewed economic and cultural vitality throughout western NSW. It will position the region as the world’s leading source of opal-related expertise, generate employment and by diversifying economic activity, buffer against impacts of drought and market conditions.

In March 2019, $20 million in funding was announced for Stage 1 of the project - $9.5 million from the Federal Government’s Building Better Regions Program, $7.5 million from the NSW Government, $2 million from Walgett Shire Council, and $1 million from AOC Founders. Fundraising for Stage 2 is underway, spearheaded by the AOC Founders Campaign, with a limited number of opportunities available for high-level Founders.

If you are interested in contributing to or becoming part of the Australian Opal Centre, please email us.