Southern Downs Regional Council will undertake community consultation on the expansion of Stanthorpe Library after Council resolved to receive a recently undertaken feasibility study at its July General Meeting.
Southern Downs Deputy Mayor and Councillor for Governance, Finance and New Projects Jo McNally said engaging with the community on Stanthorpe Library is about working towards the best possible outcome for Stanthorpe’s cultural spaces. “It’s about working towards an outcome that is best for both Stanthorpe Library and Stanthorpe Regional Art Gallery,” Cr McNally said.
The community consultation process will relate to four possible future options for the library, identified by the Stanthorpe Library Feasibility study, undertaken by consultants Complete Urban. The study evaluated the current facilities in Stanthorpe’s civic precinct to determine the needs of the community and the feasibility of constructing a new library or retrofitting an existing facility to accommodate a library, near the Stanthorpe Administration building.
Four options were identified as a part of the Stanthorpe Library Feasibility Study including: a new single storey library incorporating the existing meeting rooms and supper room on Lock Street; a new two storey library incorporating the exhibition space between the Civic Centre and Administration building; a new build, single storey library on Marsh Street; and the expansion of the existing library and art gallery in Weeroona Park.
Southern Downs Mayor Tracy Dobie said the longevity of both facilities rests upon a need to expand. “Both the library and art gallery were purpose built and have outgrown their current space,” Cr Dobie said. “The community consultation process is about residents having an opportunity to tell us what option they prefer or put forward ideas that perhaps Council hasn’t yet considered.”
The feasibility study will support future applications for State and Federal Government funding, once the feasibility study has gone through community consultation and been adopted by Council.
People who enjoyed this story will also enjoy Nexus Together.
