Caloundra District Library plans endorsed by council

Caloundra’s centre is poised to become a cultural hub with the endorsement of plans for a former council building to be transformed into a state-of-the-art library.

Counillor Terry Landsberg said the Caloundra District Library would help create a cultural hub at the coastal suburb.

Caloundra's centre is poised to become a cultural hub with the endorsement of plans for a former council building to be transformed into a state-of-the-art library.

Last week Sunshine Coast councillors voted unanimously in favour of the progression of detailed design stage for a green-star rated, district level library at the City of Beaches.

The council chambers are tipped to be repurposed into the library as construction continues on the new local government headquarters at the Maroochydore City Centre.

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The approved preliminary design of the Caloundra library pays homage to the building's butterfly roofline and soaring ceilings, and responds to its locational advantages, in particular the neighbouring green space of Bill Venardos Park.

Divisional councillor Terry Landsberg welcomed the endorsement and said it was a step in the right direction for the Caloundra centre area by contributing to the ongoing vitality of Caloundra.

"This new district library will be a real page turner for Caloundra, residents in the south and the wider Sunshine Coast community by delivering significant social, community and economic benefits, as well as supporting educational and creative development in our region," Mr Landsberg said.

An artist's impression of the foyer at the Caloundra District Library.

"Over the past year, we have completed a detailed feasibility study and preliminary design to repurpose the building into a new district library, and various community meeting spaces on levels one to three.

"The design features an integrated Customer Service Centre on the ground floor and council administration offices on the top floor, including offices for Divisions one, two and three Councillors."

The proposed District Library is part of the Caloundra Centre Activation project vision which aligns with the Caloundra Centre Master Plan, presented to the community and endorsed by council in 2017.

Mr Landsberg said it was the right location for a district library and would create a hub with The Events Centre and the new Caloundra Regional Gallery and town square.

Community Portfolio Councillor Rick Baberowski said Caloundra Library attracted about 305,000 visitors a year making it the Sunshine Coast's most visited library.

He said the new library would service a population of at least 102,000 people by 2031.

"This library will draw you off the street into an outdoor, covered extension to the building and as you step into the foyer a wonderful void opens up connecting the first and second levels of the library," Mr Baberowski said.

Councillor Peter Cox said it was Caloundra's time to shine.

"I've heard from our community that the northern end gets a lot more than the southern end, reflected in the new (Maroochydore) CBD and Mooloolaba esplanade works and the like," he said.

"This will become the cultural hub for the Sunshine Coast."

 

Council endorsed the detailed design to repurpose 25-year-old Caloundra Administration Building into a District Library, customer service centre, community meeting space and administration offices.

A detailed design will be carried out this financial year.

 

 

It was recommended to achieve a five star, energy rating.

Originally published as Caloundra District Library plans endorsed by council