Ballarat: Mair Street, Market Street, library renovation budget blowout

Renos have hit a costly snag at Ballarat Library with ratepayers having to fork out millions of extra dollars in unexpected repairs.

Major repairs at the Ballarat Library will cost ratepayers an extra $4.6 million above the city’s renovation budget, it has been revealed.

Essential structural flaws and mechanical upgrades, which had not previously been taken into consideration, are to blame for the more than 240 per cent cost blowout.

Ballarat councillors voted to provide an extra $4.596 million to the $1.9 million already allocated for the Mair St library project, at a recent meeting.

The State Government has also allocated $500,000 toward the rebuild.

The extra cash allocation will push the council’s budget commitment to $6.996 million.

Design work started at a cost of $240,000, but was stopped when structural flaws were found that would have made the renovations impossible.

Mechanical equipment, electrical systems, fire service and roof replacement has now been included at significant cost to the council.

But Mayor Daniel Moloney said the project would deliver jobs, stimulate the economy and become a ‘showpiece’ in the region.

“Ballarat’s Library of the Future project will help meet the expectations of a growing population and deliver important building activity in the city’s CBD,” Cr Moloney said.

“The $7m project will form part of a critical infrastructure investment to be unveiled in the council budget … designed to stimulate the regional municipality’s economy by creating jobs and encouraging spending.”

He said the council had appointed a globally recognised architecture and urban design firm, Studio Hollenstein, to work with contractors in the region to transform the current 28-year-old building.

Ballarat City Council has voted to provide an extra $4.596 million to the Ballarat Library. Source: Ballarat Council

The redevelopment is expected to see a visitor increase of 30 per cent with up to 2000 people coming through the doors.

Visitor numbers are expected grow as the new space will provide more room for STEAM (science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics) learning programs, performance space screenings, youth space gaming facilities and increased numbers of children and adult programs, maker space activities and digital literacy programs.

The former Australiana collection will be relocated to create a larger children’s space and play area including a baby changing tables and a breastfeeding room.

The overall space will be increased by 600sq m.

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