Category: Boathouse Redevelopment Updates

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Redevelopment Update

Anyone who has been down to the boathouse since we gave the builders exclusive access at the start of June will see that they are making good progress with the building works. The roof is on, pergola erected, old front stairs demolished, windows removed and so on. In the next two weeks the planned building works are as follows:
Week 1 commencing 9th June

  • Form Stair 1 and pour late in the week
  • Electrical rough in at both levels
  • Measure windows and roller shutters
  • Continue carpentry to walls and ceilings
  • Commence plumbing rough in

 Week 2 commencing 16th June

  • Electrical rough in continues
  • Plastering upstairs
  • Blockwork to underside of stairs
  • Plumbing rough in continues

At this stage we expect to have use of the boathouse again in mid July and for the building works to be completed in mid August, as planned.

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No Access to First Floor 2 June to 12 July and Working Bee 31 May & 1 June

We have just confirmed with Lloyd Group that they require exclusive access to the first floor from 2 June to 12 July.
RRC members will be able to use the changerooms at Mercantile during this time.
Works to the entrance stairs at the same time will mean that there is also no access to the RRC bay.  Many boats will be relocated and accessible for training from the MLC bay, La Trobe and other locations – our thanks to Barry for organising all this. Exact details of boats, locations and how to access them will be provided as soon as they are relocated.
We need your help to get ready for this stage of the works:

  • Please would all members remove ALL personal items from the changerooms by Friday 30 May. All remaining items will be cleared out from the changerooms at the weekend.
  • Please come and help with working bees on Saturday 31 May at 10am and Sunday 1 June at 10am.    We need help to shift boats to new homes and to remove everything from the first floor. If you usually train on the weekend, please come and help instead as we need all hands on deck!

We expect to have access again on Sunday 13 July when we can start to enjoy the refurbished upstairs area. There will be another working bee to put everything back in place – watch this space!

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Redevelopment Update 20 May

The redevelopment continues to progress well. As with any building works there have been a few issues that have had to be dealt with as we go along – most noticeably a downpipe was disconnected and flooded the parquetry floor. The builders have worked to effect a temporary fix and will fix permanently as the works progress.
This couple of weeks progress is as follows:

  • Concrete pour to eastern stair followed by strip and clean.
  • Steelwork will arrive on site and installation will continue for the week.
  • Supporting formwork to first floor slab will be stripped and removed except for the formwork on the front balcony.
  • Site clean up.
  • Excavator to be removed ASAP.
  • Lift will be delivered and installed
  • Installation of roofing will commence later in the week.


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Access update

Please keep changeroom doors locked to protect your valuables.
The builders, Lloyd Group, have requested that members ensure the changeroom doors are kept locked at all times during the construction works. This is as a precaution because the building will be open many more hours than it usually is and the builders will not know whether someone entering the building is a member or not.
Builders things in the hall 
The builders have a water fountain, suncream etc set up in the hall for their own use. All the builder’s things are labelled “Lloyd”. Please make sure you don’t mistakenly use the builders things when you are getting ready for a training session.

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Redevelopment Update

Week 1 commencing 10th Feb

  • There will be very limited works on site.
  • The builder Lloyd Group will establish on site with the erection of security fencing and site sheds.
  • Power will be run internally in existing Bay 2 to service the sheds.
  • Access via the rear door will no longer be possible. The internal rear stairs can still be used. RRC members and MLC should only use the front access points.
  • Access for Melbourne Rowing Club members via their rear door will be maintained.
  • Any rowing club equipment located immediately external to the RRC shed needs to be relocated.

Week 2 commencing 17th Feb

  • Surveyors will set out the site
  • Site establishment will continue
  • Some initial excavation will commence in late Feb.


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Building Contract Signed

At a small event at the boathouse on Tuesday afternoon, the building contract with Lloyds Group was signed for the redevelopment works. This is the final set of agreements that need to be executed before building works commence next week.
MLC Acting Principal, Margaret Horton, thanked RRC for our valued partnership with MLC and outlined how excited MLC is that the project is finally happening. She also thanked City of Melbourne, FMSA Architects and Lloyd Group, as did Karen Doggett.
RRC President, Karen Doggett also thanked MLC for the partnership we have with them and spoke of the anticipation of the redevelopment at RRC.

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Invitation to attend signing of building redevelopment contracts

There will be a small event at the RRC Boathouse at 3pm on Tuesday 28th January when the contract with the builder for the redevelopment works will be signed.
The event will only take 15 minutes but will provide an opportunity for RRC and MLC to thank those who have been involved in the project.
All members are welcome to attend. Be on time, or you will miss it!

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Redevelopment works commence 3 February

Great news – the contract for the redevelopment has been awarded and works will commence on 3 February. The current plan is that the boathouse will be completed in September, ready for next season.
It has been a busy few weeks:
– Works were tendered in November / December and shortlisted prior to Christmas. Lloyd group was awarded the contract in early January
– We had to work really hard to get DEPI and City of Melbourne to give the RRC-MLC Lease priority and sign it off. They finally did so and we received our fully executed documents and DEPI letter of approval on 22 December.
– We obtained Ministerial Approval for the building works, again getting the DEPI letter of approval on 22 December.
– Together with MLC we have finalised an agreement between RRC, MLC and the builder that governs how the building project will be managed and the novation of the architects contract to MLC.
Current plan is for the building contract to be signed on Tuesday 28 January. MLC will be the signatory to  this contract as they are providing the full funding for the next stage of the project. Until now, RRC and MLC have funded the preliminary work 50:50 and RRC has held the contract with the architects.
The broad program of works is now drafted and will be published after the committee meeting on Thursday. The plan is broadly to do the front stairs first, then build the 2 new boat bays and then do the works to join the 2 halves together.
Access is likely to be maintained almost throughout the program. There will be a period of a few weeks in winter when there will be no access (and alternative plans will be provided) while the building is finished as the builder needs access to the hall and changerooms to do this.
Our thanks to the RRC team and the MLC team who have worked tirelessly together to make this happen. Thanks also to our City of Melbourne counterparts for their support and FMSA Architects for their dedication to the project.
Look for weekly updates on the building works and any implications for access / training here on the blog.

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