Library announced for major shopping centre

RESIDENTS will no longer have to wait for the mobile library to roll into town each week with the region’s first library to be set up.

Greater Springfield is getting its first dedicated library. Picture: Sarah Keayes

SAY farewell to the mobile library, Springfield, the books are finally here to stay with a public library to be opened at Orion Springfield Central.

Ipswich City Council this morning voted to lease a space at the shopping centre to be used as the region’s first bricks and mortar library.

Acting Mayor Paul Tully said the “modern facility with state of the art technology” should be opened by early 2018 and would cater for all age groups.

In 2014, the council acquired a 5000sq m parcel of land between the Orion Lagoon and Orion Springfield Central that was earmarked for a potential bricks and mortar library and community hub, but a lack of funding meant the development had been benched.

Speaking to Springfield News last month, councillor David Morrison said he supported the Orion Springfield Central site in the meantime.

“Council has one chance to construct a state-of-the-art library and community building on this (potential community hub) site,” he said.

“If sufficient funding is not available to construct a building that would house a modern library and appropriate community spaces ... then I think it would be wise to lease a space within Orion Springfield Central and preserve the site to build something iconic in future years.”

State Greens candidate for Jordan, Steven Purcell, and the Springfield Malayalee Association have launched an online petition asking council to consider the community’s feedback.

“A temporary facility is more affordable, but expenditure now could impact the time frame for a more iconic community space,” the petition states.

“We support the establishment of a local Springfield community library, and would like the community be directly involved in this decision, not only about where the library should be built, but what resources, and services would best serve our community.”

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