Landsdale library location locked in

A $7 million, double-storey library overlooking a lake could be built in Landsdale within three years.

Wanneroo councillors unanimously endorsed a site at 15 The Broadview beside Landsdale Forum for the facility at their August 27 meeting following public consultation.

A council report said more than 80 per cent of the 1407 survey respondents supported building the facility, although preferences for a single or double storey building were evenly split.

The City also received 21 responses through its ‘Your Say’ web page, and four residents attended a drop-in information session in June.

The feedback included questions about why there was a need to spend $7 million and support for the location.

“This would be a fantastic addition to Landsdale,” one response said.

“A cafe included would also be a great meeting place.”

Another said there was a need for a place for young families to hang out and another said it would be convenient having it in their suburb.

With $300,000 allocated in this year’s budget, the report said the next step would be to develop design options and cost estimates, with another report expected to come before the council in November.

It said the City’s long-term financial plan provided another $550,000 in 2020-21 for design and $6.24 million for construction in 2021-22.

“This library is going to have a youth innovation hub and cafe,” councillor Brett Treby said.

“It’s forward-thinking; it’s probably going to be without peer across Australia.”

Cr Domenic Zappa said the design could capture the natural environment at Broadview Park and the library would be “an iconic facility” once built.

“This library is set to be a unique community facility with a technology hub, public meeting rooms, quiet reading spaces and all of the essentials of a modern library, in addition to a cafe,” Mayor Tracey Roberts said.

The City originally planned to build its ‘southern suburbs’ library in Madeley beside Kingsway City shopping centre, but protracted negotiations with the landowner Tah Land Pty Ltd resulted in the council looking for an alternative site last year.

The council also resolved to enter legal proceedings against Tah Land through the Supreme Court to enforce terms of a deed that required it to subdivide and transfer the site to the City.

At its August 27 meeting, councillors also noted the State Government’s new tiered model framework to support public library services.

They asked the mayor to write to the WA Local Government Association to advocate for a three-year funding agreement with the State Government to provide certainty of funding.

A council report said the City would sit in a proposed tier that would not be negatively affected in terms of funding, with local governments in that tier set to receive an annual cash grant to buy materials.