General News
21 November, 2023
Drop in for a peek at new design for silo
Plans for transforming the Llew Schilling Silo will be discussed with interested community members in Rainbow on Friday. Hindmarsh Shire Council will host a drop-in information session at the Rainbow Library and Customer Service Centre to update...
Plans for transforming the Llew Schilling Silo will be discussed with interested community members in Rainbow on Friday.
Hindmarsh Shire Council will host a drop-in information session at the Rainbow Library and Customer Service Centre to update locals on progress of the silo tourism project.
The session will run from 1pm until 6pm, during which time community members will be able to learn more about the project to date and ask questions about the proposed development.
The original design was advertised for tender in mid-2023 but attracted limited interest, and submissions were costed significantly higher than the available budget (which was fully funded by the Victorian Government’s Tourism Infrastructure Program - Flagship Projects).
Consultation with industry stakeholders identified the complexity of construction inside a 100-year-old silo as an issue which limited interest and contributed significantly to cost.
The difficulty is exacerbated by unprecedented demand in the construction industry which means that suitable contractors are already busy close to home without needing to seek work in Rainbow.
Moving the project into an external structure adjoining the silo will allow for a ‘greenfield construction’, drastically reducing the complexity of the build.
Council says it hopes this will result in contractors being more interested and will allow for the project to be completed within the existing budget.
The new call for tenders will close in mid-December.
The development seeks to repurpose the century-old silo as an art facility.
It is hoped that the silo will attract tourists who are visiting the region to enjoy in the ever-popular Silo Art Trail.
"This is a great opportunity for the community to drop by for a few minutes to look at the updated design for the silo development," Hindmarsh Shire Council mayor Cr Brett Ireland said.
"Council officers will be onsite to answer questions so we welcome anyone who would like to come along and learn more about this project."