Liverpool Plains Shire Council Mayor, Councillor Doug Hawkins OAM, has welcomed further progress towards the redevelopment of the Quirindi Library precinct that will provide a fresh, new, important community hub serving as a contemporary multi-purpose precinct to serve all sections of the community for many years to come.
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"Last week we reached another milestone with the pouring of pad footing and piers for the pergola that will have polycarbonate roofing," Cr Hawkins said.
"This will provide a good solar/thermal performance and will allow lights and provide shade for the outdoor setting, replacing and improving on the former shade trees which an arborist's report showed were already dying.
"New trees, more suited to the urban landscape will be provided when the building works are completed.
"This will allow for external community gathering and networking in a pleasant environment.
"USB plus a power point for people to charge their mobile phone, iPad, and laptop will be available and the community will have access to the public WIFI system at the library.
"The provision of wiring, telecommunication, electrical and plumbing connections has been completed and plastering and cladding has commenced. Painting and glazing will commence shortly."
Councillor Hawkins said the genesis of the project followed an inspection by the State Library NSW which indicated the size of the old library did not meet contemporary requirements.
He said as a result they provided $200,000 towards the project.
"The floor area in the old complex was 324 square metres.
"The new floor area will be 441 square metres, an increase of 36 per cent.
"Over a number of years, community consultation towards development of Council's Operational Plan informed us that many in the community wanted to see the library redeveloped to better meet requirements.
"This consultation also revealed a desire to better cater for the community's youth.
"As momentum grew to redevelop the library site further consultation was undertaken with our younger community members to determine their wishes and with library users.
"Initially Council planned to carry out the project in 4 stages. However, after being successful gaining $350,000 through the Federal Government's Drought Communities Program and $350,000 through the NSW Government's Stronger Country Communities Program the matter was further considered.
"When we were about to commence Stage 2 it was determined that substantial savings could be made in the long term by completing the project in one go to avoid the exponential rise in building costs if the project was carried out over several years.
"After careful consideration it was clear the balance of the project could be funded from unreserved money collected over a number of year utilising Section 7.12 Developer Contributions and money received through the Federal Government's Local Community Infrastructure Program and the Federal Government approved this use.
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"To allow the project to begin, the books and other resources from the library were packed in boxes and sent to Central Northern Regional Library (CNRL), which Quirindi and Werris Libraries are constituent members of, for safekeeping.
"These assets actually come under the control of CNRL and their keeping them in storage relieved Council of all rental costs that would have been otherwise incurred.
"The only costs involved the transport of the boxes to storage which was covered through grant funding as part of the project costs.
"Recently, there has been stories circulating in the community that the library assets were damaged in a torrential rain event at the storage site.
"Of 8,500 items in store only 100, 1.5 per cent, have been damaged and these books can be replaced.
"Additionally, all library assets are covered by insurance.
"The collection has since been moved to another CNRL storage site.
"The community have told Council of the importance they put on improving facilities, including sport and recreation, libraries and other important assets.
"LPSC has been very successful in applying for and gaining funding for many projects across the Shire to meet residents aspirations.
"Many of the projects we have completed or that are currently underway would not be possible without this funding gained from other tiers of government.
"I thank our State and Federal Governments and local members of parliament who have assisted us in this regard as well as State Library and their NSW.NET Service on their contribution to improvements and an upgrade for highspeed wireless public internet at our libraries," Cr Hawkins concluded.
