Kangaroo Flat Library to relocate in 2020

The Kangaroo Flat Library will relocate from its present address on High Street at the front of Lansell Square Shopping Centre to the former Senior Citizens building at 21 Lockwood Road Kangaroo Flat in June 2020.

The Lockwood Road premises will undergo a $1.38M redevelopment to provide a 50 per cent larger, centrally located library facility to service Kangaroo Flat’s growing community well into the future.  The building is owned by the City of Greater Bendigo and is an ideal location because it:-

Is large enough to supply an expanded library service in Kangaroo Flat Is close to public transport, the Kangaroo Flat strip shops, local schools and the Kangaroo Flat site of the Bendigo Community Health Service Has good access for all,  has sufficient car parking on site  and is in close proximity to other public car parking Has the Bendigo Creek walking trail running down the side of the site to provide good access for residents by bike or foot Has land on both sides of the site that is owned by the City.

City of Greater Bendigo CEO Craig Niemann said the City did not own the current site of the Kangaroo Flat Library.

“In 1979 the former Shire of Marong and the owners of the Marong Village shopping centre agreed to a 35 year, $1 per year, lease agreement for the current Kangaroo Flat Library,” Mr Niemann said.

"While the lease expired in March 2014 it has continued on under the original arrangements since that time.  However the owners of Lansell Square Shopping Centre now wish to repurpose the site and the Library must vacate the building by June 2020.

“The City did investigate a number of buildings but ultimately decided that the under-utilised Lockwood Road building was the best option.

“Works to modernise and repurpose the Lockwood road building will commence in early 2020. A new entrance into the building will be created, services upgraded, repairs to the existing building structure undertaken and solar panels to make the building more sustainable will be installed.  Other work to improve and beautify the exterior façade of the building, formalise car parking and landscaping will also be carried out.

“The move to Lockwood Road is an innovative and financially responsible solution for the future of the Kangaroo Flat Library.  It’s a strong investment in Kangaroo Flat’s future that will result in a superior library that is double the size and fit for purpose. 

Goldfields Libraries Corporation CEO Mark Hands said ongoing population growth in the Kangaroo Flat area in recent years has placed additional demands on the existing library service.

“The Kangaroo Flat Library has really outgrown the existing building so the move to Lockwood Road is exciting because not only are we increasing the size of the library but also the services we provide,” Mr Hands said.

“Residents can have their say about the services they currently enjoy or the services they would like to see offered at Kangaroo Flat by completing an online survey at www.surveymonkey.com/r/W2MNY5C

“Residents are also invited to attend an Open House Session at 21 Lockwood Road to check out the new premises and learn more about our plans before the building works get underway.  The sessions will take place at 10am Saturday November 30 and 5.30pm Wednesday December 4, 2019.”

The City of Greater Bendigo has applied for a Victorian Government Living Libraries Grant of $750,000 from the Victorian Government to help undertake the work. Goldfields Library Corporation will also contribute $50,000 and the City of Greater Bendigo will provide the balance.

Further information is available online at www.bendigo.vic.gov.au/things-to-do/libraries