Gosford Regional Library plans move forward with library and community space
Funding deadlines have forced Central Coast Council to dial down on plans for Gosford Regional Library. One councillor said ratepayers were being “sold a pup”.
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The Gosford Regional Library designs are moving forward, however one councillor has
labelled the project “a pup”.
The council decided to move forward with designs for the $27 million stand-alone library at the Parkside site in Gosford this week and voted down the option of adding another floor for commercial space and extra parking.
Cr Kyle MacGregor said the additional of commercial space would be smart and instead ratepayers are being “sold a pup”.
“This project has been delayed and stuffed up by councillors,” he said at Monday’s meeting.
“Now we are at a point where people are going to push forward for a substandard option.
This version is not what came out of the community consultation. This proposal doesn’t have two additional carparking floors below. When you do something, you should do it right.”
Mayor Lisa Matthews said the option to add a floor was too much of a risk with the Federal Government’s funding milestones. The government has allocated $7 million to the project.
“The risk is just too high and it could jeopardise the funds,” she said.
“It’s a shame … we should be looking for commercial space to make an income from it. We are going to get a library but no commercial viability. It’s sad, it could have been something exciting.”
The library will include meeting spaces, a large function space for up to 300 people, council customer service centre as well as other community spaces. There are 22 car spaces which will service the library.
Council’s director of connected communities Julie Vaughan said the function space would have the potential to host council meetings.
Councillor Rebecca Gale supported the simple library and community space option, saying in the current economic climate council should work within its means. The option with an additional level would add $13.5m to the bill.
“We do need to show fiscal responsibility,” Cr Gale said.
“It’s important to move this project on so we can library built asap.”
Residents of the former Gosford Council have been paying a special levy for the Gosford Regional Library for many years, with the levy contributing $8.1 million. Council will also use $12.6m on the project from the sale of the Kibbleplex building.
There has been a lot of back and forth regarding library plans with council exploring options of combining it with the performing arts centre.
Last year there were plans floated for a $171m tower to house both facilities, however council eventually voted to proceed with the library on its own.
Councillor Bruce McLachlan questioned whether the community even wanted a library any more.
Full details of the designs are set to come back to council in August. Under the Federal Government funding timelines, the library is set to be completed by December 2023.