Detailed plans revealed for $10m library and technology hub at Kirrawee

A hub will feature meeting pods, a media lab and recording studio alongside books and a children’s section when it opens in southern Sydney.

An artist’s impression of Kirrawee’s Library, Technology and Community Hub.

Plans have been revealed detailing the design and timeline for construction of a $10m multipurpose library and technology hub at Kirrawee.

At Monday night’s Sutherland Shire Council meeting, councillors will vote on the design for the proposed Library, Technology and Community Hub at South Village.

The hub – designed by Hollenstein Architects – will feature co-work and event spaces, plus a media lab with green screen and recording studio.

The council successfully applied for additional grant funding allowing the project to be increased from $3m to $10m which has allowed for new technology facilities, study and working spaces for the community.

There will be a collection of books on the walls to the entrance and into the children’s space, as well as the walls close to the recording studio and screening room.

The South Village hub is slated to open in March 2025.

The type of collections have not been decided yet but will be above the minimum requirement of books and items available for loan.

Construction is due to start in May and forecast to be completed in February 2025 with the opening planned a month later.

The library will operate from 7am to 10pm Monday to Saturday and 7am to 8pm on Sundays and public holidays.

Out-of-hours access will be a first for Kirrawee library with no other branches in the Shire offering that service.

The proposed opening hours with staff are two weekdays from 9am to 5pm and three weekdays from 9am to 8pm; with 9am to 4pm on Saturdays and 11am to 4pm on Sundays.

“The community venue space is proposed to have separate out of hours access like all community venue space,’’ the report said.

Community consultation was undertaken in May and June this year with 91 per cent of respondents indicating they supported the plans, and 80 per cent saying they would use the hub in the future.

The proposed features that were most important to them included library collections and borrowing, bookable events space, study space and meeting pods.

Residents were also interested in the technology hub including the sound recording space and computers with Wi-Fi and printer access.