Litchfield Council’s decision to shift Taminmin Community Library to Coolalinga Central set to go ahead

A motion to stop a Top End council from relocating its library to a commercial premises has been rejected. Find out why.

Coolalinga Central. Picture: Supplied

Updated, April 17: A motion to stop the Litchfield Council from relocating its library to Coolalinga Central has been rejected.

In a room crowded with frustrated residents who stormed out after the vote, elected members voted against Councillor Kevin Harlan’s motion – which ended with a 3/4 result.

The first elected member to speak on the motion was former Country Liberal Party candidate for Daly and current Councillor Kris Civitarese, who voted in favour of the motion.

Kris Civitarese, Picture: Glenn Campbell

“Using a commercial premises as the temporary location for our library … is neither financially responsibly or in the best interests of this community,” he said.

“Since our last council meeting, I have received significant feedback … in my experience, most of the feedback I received has not been in favour of the relocation.

“I don’t believe it is the best use of ratepayer’s money and the community was not adequately consulted.”

Litchfield Councillor Matthew Salter

Later in the debate, Councillor Matthew Salter, while acknowledging the lack of community consultation, said it was about time the library was moved from Taminmin College for the “safety of the community”.

“This document at this time does not tick all the boxes and if you listen to our last meeting I was pretty upset with the way the community consultation was handled,” he said.

“But it did not stop the fact that Taminmin Library should have been moved … 20 years ago.

“There is a risk to students; the department of education, the commonwealth government put out a paper saying that all schools should be a lockable area – and here we are in the Northern Territory.”

“If Mr and Mrs Citizen have a son or daughter sitting in the library, can someone walk off the street and sit next to them? The answer is: yes.”

Litchfield Deputy Mayor Mark Sidey

Deputy Mayor Mark Sidey disagreed with rescinding the motion, and opposed using Facebook polling, which, from a sample size of 466, found 88 per cent of users were against the relocation.

“Everyone here would appreciate that a Facebook poll is pretty much the most unreliable read of a community there is – there is absolutely no statistical rigour to a Facebook poll at all.”

“I caution council against relying on unmoderated, self-selecting online forums.”

The relocation is estimated to cost at least $337,000 – a one-off cost to “facilitate the relocation and complete the fit-out of the new space”.

From then on, an annual budget of an “additional” $537,000 would be required.

How a Top End council’s $337k library shift could be reversed today

Initial, April 15 — A motion to stop the Litchfield Council from relocating its library to Coolalinga Central has been lodged in tonight’s monthly meeting agenda.

It comes just weeks after the council passed a motion to relocate the Taminmin Community Library to Coolalinga Central in a divisive 4/3 vote.

The relocation, which has been met with intense public scrutiny since it was announced, is estimated to cost at least $337,000 – a one-off cost to “facilitate the relocation and complete the fit-out of the new space”.

From then on, an annual budget of an “additional” $537,000 would be required, with the details of how and where this half-a-million dollars will be distributed still unknown.

The length of the lease is also unknown.

Taminmin College. Picture: (A) manda Parkinson

Prior to the motion being passed in March, elected members were presented with feedback from the council’s Facebook page and ad hoc responses from locals at the Humpty Doo waste transfer station, according to a report contained in the council’s April 15 agenda.

Of the community feedback received, it is understood that 168 residents responded positively to the relocation, while 197 responded negatively against it and 109 didn’t care.

Despite accusations from members of the public that the council allegedly breached the Local Government Act 2019, Minister for Local Government Steve Edgington said this was not the case.

“While all councils are expected to consult with the community and consider feedback, it is not a breach of the Local Government Act 2019 if a council makes a decision that is unpopular with its constituents,” he said.

“This is a matter for Litchfield Council.”

Litchfield Council entrance signs. Picture: Katrina Bridgeford

Since it passed, it was understood elected members have received numerous emails from constituents who are upset with the decision.

In an attempt to settle the debate, councillor Kevin Harlan, who is submitting the motion, posted four Yes/No polls in four Facebook groups that cover the Litchfield Council area.

From the four groups, a total of 466 votes were received – 409 votes (88 per cent) were against the relocation and 57 votes (12 per cent) were for the relocation.

“God NO!” a user shared in the comments of one post.

Another said it was a “definite NO from me”.

Litchfield Council’s next meeting will be on April 15 from 5.30pm, with members of the public allowed to join for the open section of the meeting.

Originally published as Litchfield Council’s decision to shift Taminmin Community Library to Coolalinga Central set to go ahead