The Tidbinbilla Visitor Centre was leading-edge but prone to water leaks. Photo: TT Architecture.
The award-winning Tidbinbilla Visitor Centre is coming down, two years after it was shut due to water leaks and health concerns, and 25 years since it opened in 2000.
A development application has been lodged for its demolition, along with the outbuildings, paved areas and services.
The works will clear the site of above- and below-ground structures, disconnect and cap services, and remediate the site to a safe and environmentally stable condition.
The aim is to prepare the site for future use.
The Visitor Centre closed in May 2023 after a six-month investigation into the leaks and residual moisture plaguing the building, which won the inaugural national GreenSmart Building Of The Year award in 2000 for its leading-edge environmental practice.
It was decided that it would be too costly to remediate the building, given the ongoing risks to staff.
In April 2024, a temporary visitor centre was installed in the carpark. The demountable building features Wi-Fi, toilets, and staff on hand to assist visitors in exploring the reserve and administer first aid. It also coordinates search and rescue operations.
ACT Parks and Conservation Service executive branch manager Stephen Alegria said at the time the temporary set-up may be there for a couple of years, but it appears it could be some time before a new centre is established.
A new permanent visitor centre is planned, but a government spokesperson did not provide a timeline or say whether funding has been set aside for it.
Funding of $623,000 was provided in the 2022-23 ACT budget to develop a detailed design for a new Tidbinbilla Visitor Centre and undertake community consultation.
The spokesperson said the government was now examining what was needed for a future visitor centre in the context of the whole reserve, including visitor amenities, cultural and education interpretation requirements, walking trail upgrades and conservation initiatives.
Potential sites for a visitor centre were also on the table, with government ecologists, First Nations representatives and fire behavioural analysts involved in identifying sites.
“The site will be considered against various factors, including to lessen the risk to ecological communities and heritage sites, while also being efficient and convenient for the use of roads, carparks, and picnic areas,” the spokesperson said.
Mr Alegria said last year that the preferred site was at Dalsetter, a carpark used for access to walking trails to Gibraltar Peak.
He said the area emerged from consultation with the Ngunnawal community, but from a visitor perspective, it also boasted 360-degree views.
Planning for a new permanent centre had focused on its sustainability, longevity and quality.
It would also have to be adaptable and flexible because it was uncertain what would happen in the next 10 or 20 years.
The temporary visitors centre will stay open during and after the demolition works, which will cost almost $62,000.
The DA is open for comment until 26 September.
