By Jeremy Sollars
The consensus of a public meeting held in Stanthorpe last week to discuss the future location of the council library was that it should remain in Weeroona Park.
The Southern Downs Regional Council is undertaking community consultation on a proposal to shift the Stanthorpe Library into the Civic Centre to enable the Stanthorpe Regional Art Gallery to expand in Weeroona Park.
Earlier this year the council engaged consultants to develop costings around a number of options for the library, including re-location of existing facilities in the Civic Centre to accommodate it.
But the majority of those who attended the public meeting last Wednesday 8 August appeared to be of the view the library should be expanded on its current site, with concerns about access to the Civic Centre for the elderly and disabled and people with prams.
Many at the meeting suggested the entire plan should be put on hold until the issue of Stanthorpe’s de-amalgamation from Warwick is resolved, but Mayor Tracy Dobie made it clear at the meeting that the council will not put its business on until such a time.
One option raised at the meeting was to close part of Marsh Street and extend Weeroona Park to create a new “precinct” with the library, however access to the Stanthorpe Police Station was raised as an issue by the council’s chief executive officer David Keenan.
Mr Keenan also pointed out that with a federal election in the wings there could be grant money available for the library’s re-location or expansion.
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What are the costings?
The consultants engaged by the council, Sydney firm Complete urban, came up with a range of options for the Stanthorpe Library, two of which involve re-locating existing areas within the Stanthorpe Civic Centre opposite Weeroona Park to accommodate the Library.
The cost estimates are as follows –
• New single-storey library in Civic Centre – re-locate Supper Room to Exhibition Space – $2,024,852
• New two-storey library, Civic Centre Exhibition Space (re-locate Bar to Supper Room) – $2,765,042
• Build new single-storey library adjoining Civic Centre – $1,806,000
• Expand existing library in Weeroona Park – $1,625,060
Community consultation on the Stanthorpe Library’s future closes on Friday 31 August.
Copies of the Stanthorpe Library feasibility study are available for viewing at the council’s Stanthorpe and Warwick administrations buildings and libraries, Allora library, Stanthorpe Art Gallery and the SDRC website at www.sdrc.qld.gov.au
Residents are invited to complete the Stanthorpe Library Survey – go to the council website and click the ‘Stanthorpe Library Expansion’ link – or make a submissions in writing or online to mail@sdrc.qld.gov.au or Southern Downs Regional Council, PO Box 26, Warwick 4370
