On the page: City considers feedback about proposal to build library in Armstrong Creek

THE City of Greater Geelong is working on its plan to design and build Armstrong Creek’s first library, and has revealed some of the feedback it has received so far.

The City of Greater Geelong is working with the Geelong Regional Library Corporation to deliver the Armstrong Creek Library and Community Hub, which will be the first social infrastructure built for the growth area.

The Precinct Structure Plan for the Armstrong Creek Town Centre earmarks a spot for the facility at the intersection of the town centre’s Main Street and the pedestrian-only High Street.

A survey about the library and community hub opened in March and ran for three weeks.

Among other questions, it asked people what community activities the facility should have, including digital technology, Council Customer Service, Maternal and Child Health, art and creative spaces, youth programs, seniors programs, natural spaces, accessible toilets, or a community kitchen.

Earlier this month, the city released a community engagement summary, which stated feedback on stage 1 had informed the concept design of the library and community hub.

“We heard that the community wants the library and community hub to be a state-of-the-art, environmentally sensitive, inclusive, innovative and inspiring contemporary social infrastructure to provide a vehicle for service delivery, community activities, social inclusion and civic participation.”

The summary stated stage 1 saw 4,300 pamphlets delivered and eight advertisements run in local newspapers, 274 people left feedback, and there were 290 suggestions from the public on the online social map.

Melbourne architects Buchan have been selected to design the building.

According to the city when it opened the online survey on March 9, the library and community hub will be a five-star green facility with flexible community meeting rooms, including accessible spaces for all to share.

“Modern technology will be integrated within the multi-storey building, while allowing flexibility for future innovations to be incorporated over time.

“As well as regular weekly activities for children and adults and an extensive book collection, the library will have an emphasis on enabling alternative and interactive learning through cutting-edge digital technology.”

The summary noted the city had closed this stage of community engagement for evaluation and review.

“We will be reviewing the results and including community vision, priorities and opportunities into the design.”

The city says it will announce the next opportunities for feedback, including community engagement about a concept plan, via its Have Your Say page and through a range of media channels.

Detailed design development on the library and community hub is slated to take place between May and December this year, with construction to take place between June 2022 and November 2023.