Millennium Arts Project delivered on time and on budget

The Millennium Arts Project at the Queensland Cultural Centre is being delivered on time and on budget, Public Works Minister Robert Schwarten confirmed today.

“The Opposition knows any claims otherwise are untrue because they would have raised them in Estimates as any construction cost blow out would have appeared in the Budget papers,” he said.

“The 2006-07 Budget paper No. 3 (p.52) clearly shows the allocation to the Millennium Arts Project (Queensland Cultural Centre) at $277,260,000 and the furniture, fittings and equipment at $12,958,000.

“This figure aligns with the $277 million quoted by myself and then Arts Minister Anna Bligh in a release of May 27, 2004, which is available at http://statements.cabinet.qld.gov.au/MMS/StatementDisplaySingle.aspx?id=35760

“This release specifically said that the $277 million figure includes building the Queensland Gallery of Modern Art, the redeveloped State Library and public, recreational and outdoor spaces. It did not mention refit, furniture, computers and equipment and the like.

“Hansard of April 20 this year also records the fact that the total cost is $291 million.

“Either the Opposition was asleep during the Budget and Estimates or there was no blow out and they are just incompetent and whingeing for whingeing’s sake.

“The Millennium Arts Project at the Queensland Cultural Centre is a magnificent project that is on time and on budget. The guaranteed contract sum (GCS) was for $277 million and the project will be delivered for $277 million.

“The $14 million fit out figure was never part of the construction cost.”

Media inquiry: 3237 1832