New library and community centre for Mount Gambier, South Australia

Mount Gambier’s $8.6 million new Library and Community Centre has come in well ahead of time, delivering a significant local economic boost as a result of the Australian Government’s Nation Building – Economic Stimulus Plan.

$3.5 million was provided under the Australian Government’s $1 billion Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Program for the construction of the new Mount Gambier Public Library and Community Centre.

The City of Mount Gambier Council expended a further $2 million on the car park, landscape, streetscape and stormwater management that adjoins the new Library.

The Library and Community Centre is part of the $15 million ‘Mount Gambier – Vision for the Future Towards 2015’ plan, aimed at revitalising the City Centre of Mount Gambier, which is in total receiving $5million from the RLCIP.

The remaining $1.5 million from the RLCIP has been allocated to the recently commenced $6.4 million Main Corner Development situated nearby.

City of Mount Gambier Council Mayor, Mr Steve Perryman said the new Library provided a direct injection for the ‘Blue Lake City’s’ local economy and has left the community with a fantastic new centre.

“More than 100 jobs were created during the construction and post-completion,” Mayor Perryman said.

“Around 31 local companies were contracted to work on the project and a number of additional on-going positions have become available through a necessary increase in library staffing, due to the expanded and highly-popular facility.”

“The new Library has been a huge success and has doubled the business of the old library with 7,000 visitors on its opening day last December; over 18,000 in its first week of operation; and 43,000 passing through the doors in January 2010 this year alone,” Mayor Perryman said.

“The City of Mount Gambier has sourced local materials wherever possible, such as limestone and timber, to showcase the region’s unique building materials.”

“It’s vitally important to provide our community with the resources to connect and engage with one another in an open, welcoming and friendly place that is accessible to all”, Mayor Perryman said.

“The Public Library and Community Centre allow schools, groups and individuals to meet, learn, research and conduct business in the Centre, but it is much more than a physical redevelopment – it has challenged perceptions of what a library is and can be.”

“The new Centre has revitalised many of the community services offered by Council, delivering an innovative suite of services and programs, onsite, online and throughout the wider Mount Gambier region,” Mayor Perryman concluded.

The Mount Gambier Library and Community Centre is the first in a series of three projects to be developed between now and 2015 that will revitalise Mount Gambier’s City Centre and provide a boost in local employment and investment in the area.

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