Chris Oldfield, Naracoorte Community News
After six years of being idle, and at least $40,000 budgeted for “design work”, Naracoorte’s old library building remains vacant.
What to do with it, and what the designs are for, will be discussed behind closed doors in a workshop by Naracoorte Lucindale Council.
But whether the secret meeting takes place with the current group of elected members, or a new council to be elected in November, is yet to be decided.
On July 23, 2016 council announced the DeGaris Pl library was relocating around the corner to 165 Smith St, with the week-long move taking place from August 1. Almost six years ago to the day.
At the council’s May 24 meeting this year, an agenda item called for a long-term financial plan to be endorsed.
“This is a really important document along with our asset management plan to take into consideration when we work out what services we’re going to do for our community,” mayor Erika Vickery said.
“Well, certainly it is a very important document for when we work out our annual budget.”
CEO Trevor Smart said the long-term financial plan “reflects the last three asset management plans (AMPs) that we recently endorsed”.
“Within my library report – you’ll notice that we have various points in time – to end the financial year, our next year’s budget, and what our long-term financial plan indicates,” he said.
“So, our review of AMPs and long term financial plan will commence early in the new financial year…”
Schultz queries plan for old library
Then Cr Ken Schultz said: “I haven’t read anywhere, or heard anything, but what are we doing with the old library?”
Mrs Vickery: “We haven’t considered that at this stage.”
Cr Schultz: “There’s been no meeting about it?”
Mrs Vickery: “No.”
Cr Schultz : “No ideas? Are we going to rent it out to somebody or what?”
Mr Smart pointed in the direction of the old library next door to the council office on DeGaris place and said: “This one here you mean?”
Cr Schultz: “Yeah.”
Mr Smart: “The answer is council doesn’t have a position on it yet so we can workshop probably up to four choices.
“I guess it’s up to council, whether you wish to do that before election or post election, is probably a fair question.
“So currently, it’s not in a state to rent at the moment.
“So council, either this council or the newly elected council, has to make a decision on what it wants to do.”
Cr Cameron Grundy muttered: “What, fixing the roof?”
Mr Smart: “It’s a bit more than fixing the roof, but yeah.
“There’s (sic) various elements to the building regardless (of) what you use it for or not.
“Toilets, roof, air conditioning and other parts of the building that will actually (have to be) dealt with in one way or another regardless. Then depending on what you use it for, further works.
“So, no decision has been made. We haven’t had a workshop.”
Cr Schultz: “I haven’t heard anything.”
Mr Smart: “No you haven’t missed anything.”
Mrs Vickery: “We haven’t had that discussion, Cr Schultz.”
She thanked Cr Schultz for the question and called for a vote on the recommendation to endorse the long-term financial plan for 2022-32.
Cr Scott McLachlan moved it, Cr Grundy seconded and it was carried.
Smart advises old library be a council chamber
Two and a half years ago Mrs Vickery and Mr Smart announced the old library would be assessed for repair for administration purposes.
At the council’s January 28, 2020, meeting Mr Smart referred to the purchase of the former Naracoorte Herald building.
“We should turn our attention to the future use of the old library building on DeGaris Pl,” Mr Smart said in the 2020 report.
“Initial discussions have suggested that this building could be converted to a council chamber – and possibly meeting rooms – and remain a valued asset of council.
“An upgrade/repair/fit out to this building as a council chamber has different requirements and challenges than that as a public use building – library – and could be designed internally to provide a council chamber, and possibly a smaller meeting room for council/committee/general meetings, and community use.”
He advised the current chamber and associated area had a floor space of 177sqm, but did not suggest what else it could be used for if it was not a meeting chamber.
He said the old library building had 335sqm of floor space.
“I suggest that if council wish to progress this concept, that we would use our internal resources and expertise to provide a proposal to renovate/repair, design, and fit out for council to consider and work through.”
That suggestion became his recommendation.
Cr Ken Schultz moved Mr Smart’s recommendation, Cr Julie Earl seconded and it was carried.
The following day, Mrs Vickery and Mr Smart issued a media release which included: “The old library site on DeGaris Pl will now be assessed for renovation and repair for administrative purposes.”
The council’s 2020-21 budget allocated $10,000 for “design work” which had a job status of “on target” at the end of the financial year.
The 2021-22 budget listed an amount of $30,000 for “design work”. But according to the council’s June 2022 agenda, it had a job status of “not started”.
No further specific or itemised amount of funding was allocated for the old library building in the current 2022-23 budget.
This article appeared in the Naracoorte Community News.
