Question:
1. Can Council confirm that all existing town planning approvals and associated planning consultancy responsibilities for the three projects remain with Council's existing appointed parties, and that no separate Town Planner is required under this consultancy?

2. Can Council confirm that existing civil engineering, geotechnical investigations, surveying, overall structural design and building certification remain with the respective project designers or contractors, except for specialist engineering directly related to the artwork, sculpture and interpretation packages?

3. Can Council provide the current Design Responsibility and Interface Matrices, relevant approved drawings, outstanding design items and details of the appointed technical consultants for the three projects?

4. For specialist cultural installations requiring new foundations, lighting, electrical infrastructure or drainage, can Council clarify whether these are to be fully designed by the specialist consultant or completed by existing contractor-side designers following specialist interface requirements?

5. Are there existing cultural heritage consultants, engagement representatives or approved cultural governance arrangements that Council expects the successful consultant to work with?

Thank you.

Answered on 03/Nov/2026 04:46 AM:


Thank you for your questions. Council provides the following clarifications.

1. Town Planning Responsibilities

Town planning, development applications, statutory planning approvals and associated planning consultancy services remain Council's responsibility through its existing project arrangements.

The successful Consultant is not required to engage a Town Planner or obtain development approvals. However, its specialist designs must comply with applicable planning requirements and conditions communicated by Council.

2. Engineering, Surveying and Building Certification

The successful Consultant is not responsible for general infrastructure engineering or technical investigations, including civil engineering, geotechnical investigations, surveying, overall structural design or building certification.

These services remain with Council's respective project designers and construction contractors.

The Consultant is responsible for all specialist engineering and certification necessary to deliver its artwork, sculpture, cultural installation, interpretation and wayfinding design packages.

3. Design Responsibilities and Interfaces

Council confirms the following allocation of responsibilities:

Council and existing project consultants:

Overall project coordination and statutory approvals.

General infrastructure design, technical investigations and project-wide engineering.

Management of existing design and construction contracts.

Approval of design responsibility allocations and resolution of contractual overlaps or gaps.

Successful Consultant:

Cultural heritage management across all three projects.

Complete specialist design of artwork, sculptures, cultural installations, interpretation, signage, wayfinding and visitor experience elements for the Cultural Walk and Walking Trails projects.

Specialist engineering, technical specifications, connection and fixing requirements, and certification associated with those designs.

Preparation of construction-ready specialist design packages.

Coordination of technical interfaces with the respective project designers and contractors.

Construction contractors:

Construction-related design and engineering allocated under their contracts.

Shop drawings, fabrication, procurement, installation, testing and commissioning.

Construction quality assurance, compliance and certification associated with their works.

Council retains responsibility for establishing and approving contractual design allocations. The successful Consultant must document the detailed interfaces associated with its specialist scope through Design Responsibility and Interface Matrices.

Council will manage any required amendments to existing construction contract responsibilities.

Relevant drawings, specifications and technical information have been provided in the tender documentation where available. Additional project information and details of appointed consultants will be provided during mobilisation.

4. Foundations, Lighting, Electrical Infrastructure and Drainage

For specialist cultural installations, responsibilities are allocated as follows:

Successful Consultant:

Complete design of the installation, artwork or cultural feature.

Dimensions, materials, structural performance, design loads and fixing/connection requirements.

Specialist engineering and certification associated with the installation.

Lighting and electrical performance requirements, including intended effects, equipment requirements and connection points.

Technical information required by other designers to complete associated infrastructure.

Existing project designers and construction contractors:

Site-specific foundation design, including ground conditions, excavation, reinforcement and supporting structures.

Electrical supply, cabling, distribution and associated infrastructure design.

General drainage and civil infrastructure design.

Construction, installation, testing and commissioning.

Council will resolve any interface requiring an adjustment to existing contractual responsibilities.

The Consultant must provide sufficient technical information for the respective project designers and contractors to complete their works without undertaking further substantive design of the specialist cultural elements.

5. Existing Cultural Heritage Consultants and Governance Arrangements

Council has provided relevant reference documentation, including:

Palm Island Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA).

Palm Island Planning Scheme.

Proposed Tourism Governance, Commercial and Operating Model.

Previous cultural engagement reports, including the GHD Cultural Installation Engagement Outcomes Report and Walking Trails Engagement Outcomes Report.

Relevant project drawings and specifications.

The proposed governance model identifies potential arrangements involving Traditional Owners, Elders, cultural knowledge holders, Rangers and community representatives. It does not constitute a formally approved cultural heritage governance arrangement.

Council's responsibilities:

Coordinate introductions to relevant existing advisers and stakeholders.

Approve project-specific engagement and governance arrangements.

Retain formal contractual, statutory and legal decision-making authority, without replacing the authority of the relevant cultural parties.

Successful Consultant's responsibilities:

Review existing cultural heritage documentation and engagement outcomes.

Identify outstanding cultural heritage requirements for each project.

Develop and implement project-specific cultural engagement and management strategies.

Coordinate consultation and cultural validation processes.

Lead negotiations for cultural heritage agreements for Walking Trails and Rodeo Grounds, in coordination with Council and its legal advisers.

Monitor cultural heritage obligations during design and construction.

Existing reports and proposed governance arrangements are background information and do not replace the need for appropriate cultural consultation, consent or statutory compliance.