Toowoomba Regional Council award tender for Highfields library project construction

A start date for the $8.79 million new Highfields Library project has been announced, which will include a customer service centre and community meeting facility.

Construction of a new Toowoomba Regional Council library, customer service centre and community meeting facility in Highfields is set to begin in the coming months.

Toowoomba-based construction company McNab Developments was awarded the tender to construct the new Highfields library, with work expected to kick off in late October 2021, weather permitting.

Construction of the $8.79 million project is expected to be completed in mid-2022.

TRC environment and community portfolio leader Tim McMahon said design for the new library would be completed soon.

“It will replace the existing library which currently supports around 52,600 visitors annually and accommodate the growing number of library users,” he said.

“The new facility will include a customer service centre, community meeting rooms, a dedicated junior reading area, computer facilities including free Wi-Fi access, and photocopy services.”

A concept design illustrates the new library and community facility for Highfields.

The project, funded by the Australian Government’s local roads and community infrastructure program and TRC’s pandemic response investment program, is one of 64 projects being accelerated to stimulate economic activity across the Toowoomba region.

“This is a major project for the region which will create local jobs during construction and encourage economic growth within the Highfields area for years to come,” Mr McMahon said.

Groom MP Garth Hamilton said he was excited to see a new vision for Highfields take shape.

“Highfields has a unique local identity that is only growing stronger as more people move to the area,” he said.

“The new library will provide a central meeting place for the community to come together and access crucial services.”