Temporary Build Signals Scale of CHOGM

The construction of 39 temporary buildings for the 2002 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) starts at the main meeting venues on Queensland's Sunshine Coast today.

The temporary structures will cover more than 13 000 square metres - an area larger than the oval at the Sydney Cricket Ground - will have 200 tonnes of timber flooring and six kilometres of metal frames.

The project is the largest build and fit-out of temporary buildings undertaken in Australia since the Sydney Olympic Games, the Australian CHOGM spokesman, Andrew Reynolds, said today.

"As host of CHOGM 2002, the Federal Government is ensuring world-class venues and facilities are provided," Mr Reynolds said.

"Additional buildings were needed because there simply wasn't enough existing function space at the two main venues, which is an indication of the massive scale of the leaders' summit.

"The buildings range from two-story marquees to portable huts, and have been sourced from around Australia, with one transported from Singapore.

"Around 800 media will work from a massive hoecker which alone will cover 4,500 square metres, while other temporary buildings will be used for kitchens and stand-down areas for volunteers and staff.

"To ensure the local power supply is not affected, the Task Force is bringing in generators which will provide enough power to meet the needs of a small town."

The temporary buildings are being erected at the Hyatt Regency Coolum and Novotel Twin Waters over the next three weeks. They will be dismantled after CHOGM.

29 January 2002

Contact:
CHOGM 2002 Task Force
Dept of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
Terry Walls 0419 606 107
Julie Marks 0408 684 854