The new Queanbeyan Civic and Cultural Precinct is coming in 2023

The Queanbeyan-Palerang Mayor, Councillor Tim Overall, said construction of the Queanbeyan Civic and Cultural Precinct (QCCP), designed by Queanbeyan firm Cox Architects was expected to begin shortly. He said ADCO Constructions was chosen from five tenders for the project and would take possession of the site in the week of July 26.

The site - including the vacant space at 257 Crawford Street once occupied by the council administrative building and extending into the Lowe Street cark park - would be redeveloped above and below ground "with a strong focus on community and cultural spaces - more than 40 per cent".

The redevelopment will include covered gallery linkages to the Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre and Bicentennial Hall, new basement parking, a head office for council staff, the new library and conference meetings rooms

Also in the redevelopment will be two multistorey towers bringing together 200 Queanbeyan staff now in 11 different locations in the city. There will also be lettable space for government and commercial offices with tenants including the southern headquarters of the Department of Regional New South Wales.

Although some car parking above ground would be lost, Mr Overall said the public spaces in the new underground parking area would compensate.

Mr Overall said the project was "due for completion late next year".

He said it would be funded by debt and was "expected to be cost-positive from about year nine or 10".

Performing arts and cultural coordinator for Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council Sara Wrightman said, "We're really excited about this great new development"

She said the existing venues would remain open during the construction which when completed would provide opportunities to present more outside performances and activities in the green space including plays and music.

"We'll have three options to do public performances - the Q, the B and the new outdoor space."

The Q is the Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre. The B is the Queanbeyan Bicentennial Hall - renovated last year with funding from the NSW government to improve its seating and air-conditioning and lighting. What the one-letter nickname for the new space will be remains to be seen.