Heart of Coolum beats proudly with civic centre upgrade

It’s an exciting time for Coolum as Council officially opening the first stage upgrade of Jack Morgan Park, including the refurbished Coolum Civic Centre, today.

Division 9 Councillor Steve Robinson said the upgrade had transformed the area into a high quality public open space that is comfortable, accessible and visually appealing.

“The 2.6 hectare Jack Morgan Park is widely regarded as the civic heart of Coolum, and I think residents will agree it’s beating proudly today,” Cr Robinson said.

“The Coolum Civic Centre makeover is a highlight of the upgrade, and theatre staff, performers and audiences will notice a huge improvement to what is now a modern, vibrant venue.

“Enhancements included internal and external renovations to the foyer, toilets, kitchen, meeting rooms and entry areas.

“Like all performance and community venues, Coolum Civic Centre is a valuable asset to our community.  It’s a versatile place which provides a vibrant hub of diverse community, cultural and commercial activities.”

Cr Robinson said the Jack Morgan Park upgrade would benefit visitors to the civic centre and library, and the wider community.

“You’ll notice a big difference in the park – there’s new outdoor seating areas and trees, better footpaths and lighting, bike racks and way-finding signage, and a safer ‘drop off’ zone for vehicle passengers,” he said.

“I’d like to thank the community for their overwhelming support for this project and for their patience during construction.

“This project, along with the upgrade to Coolum Sports Complex which is underway now, makes it a very exciting time for the town.”

Future stages of the Jack Morgan Park upgrade will further activate and revitalise the park, improve connectivity throughout the site, and provide more spaces to bring the indoors outside with outdoor reading areas, wi-fi, meeting rooms and markets.

Fast facts:

• Bendigo Bank contributed $50,000 contribution to the overall Jack Morgan Park project.
• The Coolum Civic Centre is one of six venues included in the Sunshine Coast Performance and Community Venues Service Plan 2014-2029.