A concept plan of the proposed Southern Suburbs Library in Madeley.
Camera IconA concept plan of the proposed Southern Suburbs Library in Madeley. Credit: Supplied/Bollig Design Group

Madeley library concept plans released

Laura PondWanneroo Times

A CONCEPT plan for a proposed Madeley library has been released.

The City of Wanneroo has been in negotiations with Tah Land to secure an area within the Kingsway City shopping centre site for the Southern Suburbs Library for more than a year.

The council resolved at its December 2015 meeting that though the City would “continue to enforce its rights in accordance with the 1992 deed of agreement” between it and Tah Land regarding land adjacent to Bellerive Boulevard, the chief executive would negotiate further to determine an alternative site for the library.

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It listed the alternative preference as vacant land near the medical centre, followed by the empty site next to the fitness centre.

Councillors endorsed the commencement of a concept design, which would not be contingent on a specific site.

The City invited four design consultants to participate in a competition to prepare the concept plans.

The brief was to feature an innovative service delivery model, flexible design to meet evolving community needs, a technology space and art hub.

A report by the City said the building design should “push the boundaries” rather than be a standard library and offer a balance between traditional library activities and innovative new services.

“Aspirations for the new library include it becoming a focal point for the community, to have a strong sense of identity as a community hub and to create maximum social interaction,” it said.

It described pedestrian connectivity with the shopping centre as essential and requested inclusion of a multi-functional hall space and commercial tenancy for a cafe.

The report said the site opposite the medical centre was more suitable for the library and recommended Bollig Design Group’s two-storey design for development, which will be refined and value engineered. The 2016-17 capital works program includes $444,904 for the next design stage, which is expected to cost about $45,000 and remaining funds will be used for construction, with $58,000 spent on the concept designs.

City governance and legal manager Mustafa Yildiz confirmed at last week’s briefing sessions that negotiations with Tah Land were ongoing.

Councillors will vote tomorrow night whether to endorse the concept design plan.

UPDATE: Madeley library design gets thumbs up