Library reopens, Heritage Centre still closed, after running tap causes significant flood damage

After a running tap caused significant flooding, most of the Geelong library has now reopened – but repairs on one level could take a lot longer to finish.

Geelong Library and Heritage Centre. Picture: Josh Williamson.

The Geelong library has reopened its lifts and all levels except the Heritage Centre on level three, where significant flooding occurred over the Christmas break.

The Geelong Regional Library Corporation (GRLC) announced its reopening on social media on Tuesday, stating most levels of the library were now accessible.

“However, the Heritage Centre (level three) remains closed for repairs until further notice,” it said.

It is understood the cause of the flood was a tap left running on the third level.

GRLC thanked library users for their patience and support, and said all events and school holiday sessions would now return to their original locations.

Police are not involved in the matter, which saw Fire Rescue Victoria attend the scene in the early hours of December 27 after an alarm was triggered.

Water reportedly rushed onto Little Malop St and into a neighbouring cafe.

A GRLC Facebook post on December 30 described the flooding as “significant”.

Carpet within the heritage centre archive area must be replaced, but it said collections were not impacted.

It is understood rectification works will be covered by insurance.

Earlier: Library lifts biggest casualty of flood

Access to the upper floors of Geelong library continues to remain off limits almost two weeks after a flood caused significant damage.

The flood, understood to have occurred after a cleaner left a tap running for more than 24 hours, has damaged the lift system.

Management is now scrambling to find a fix, but it is unclear how long it will take for things to return to normal, with assessments ongoing this week.

Currently, only two of the library’s five storeys are accessible to the public and the closure could extend into next week, sources said.

It was initially hoped that the entire building would operate as normal from this week, but only the building’s first and second levels are currently open and accessible only by stairs, a Geelong Regional Library Corporation spokeswoman said.

“If members of the public have any accessibility concerns and would like to access items on these levels, library staff are available to help,” she said.

“All other levels, including the heritage centre, remain closed while repairs are ongoing until further notice.

“Thank you for your patience and support.”

The spokeswoman said planned school holiday programs were running as scheduled on the ground floor and further updates would be provided as soon as possible.

Police are not involved in the matter, which saw Fire Rescue Victoria attend the scene in the early hours of December 27 after an alarm was triggered.

People familiar with the event reported water rushing onto Little Malop St and into the neighbouring Public Cafe.

A GRLC Facebook post on December 30 described the flooding as “significant”.

Carpet within the heritage centre archive area must be replaced, but collections were not impacted.

It is understood rectification works will be covered by insurance and library management have apologised for any inconvenience.

Geelong Library and Heritage Centre. Picture: Josh Williamson.

The library is widely known as “The Dome” following its $45m redevelopment almost a decade ago.

Black and yellow tape has restricted entrance to where people would normally access the lifts.

Originally published as Library reopens, Heritage Centre still closed, after running tap causes significant flood damage