Knox Council to spend another $900,000 on fitting out library at Westfield Knox

Knox councillors have agreed to pour another $900,000 into the multimillion plan to open a new state-of-the-art library in the old Myer at Knox City Shopping Centre.

A render of the new Knox Council library at Westfield Knox.

Knox councillors have agreed to allocate an additional $900,000 towards the fit-out of the new council library at Westfield Knox, bringing the total cost of the project to more than $5m.

At Monday night’s council meeting, councillors agreed to allocate $924,066 from the council’s Library Reserve fund to go towards the new library, to be located on level 3 of the redeveloped centre, within the old Myer store.

It brings the total cost of the project to $5,412,880.

“Due to the current market conditions the cost for the construction has increased since September 2022, however the cost has been reviewed by an independent Quantity Surveyor and the costs reflect the current market conditions,” the council report noted.

“It is proposed that the construction of a new Knox Library be undertaken in the 2023/24 financial year as part of Scentre Group’s redevelopment of Westfield Knox and is expected to be opened in December 2023.”

Cr Jude Dwight expressed her frustration around the cost blow out and supply chain issues.

She said having to find the additional funding was frustrating when the council had so many pressures on its budget.

Cr Sorina Grasso supported the new “state-of-the-art” library.

“This is the major activity centre for the municipality and I absolutely support it,” she said.

Cr Darren Pearce the 2000sq m library would be the equivalent size to two Olympic-sized swimming pools.

“That’s why there is a $5 million fit-out cost,” he said.

He said the library would be in the centre for at least a quarter of a century, which represented a good investment.

Cr Susan Laukens said the library would also be home to the council’s Youth Information Centre, currently based in Knox Ozone, and would be open, breezy, with green space, functioning rooms and places to sit and read and study.

“It’s going to be an all-encompassing space right in the heart of Knox Westfield.”

The Library Reserve was developed for the purpose of major capital expenditure for acquiring, refurbishing, or redeveloping library premises as stand-alone premises, or as part of community hubs for all five Knox Library Branches. The reserve was established as a result of an accumulated surplus distribution from the Eastern Regional Libraries Corporation (ERLC) of $2 million.

Westfield Knox recently unveiled the latest stage of its $355m redevelopment, including a full-sized basketball court and nature-inspired outdoor kids play space, along with an enhanced fashion and lifestyle retail precinct.

It has also introduced a controversial paid parking system.