One of the key issues in the Queenstown Lakes District Council Draft Annual Plan, to be adopted next week for consultation, is a proposal to relocate the Queenstown Library, QLDC Mayor Clive Geddes said.

The proposal would move the library from its current location to the former Pulse Fitness Gym, opposite the Memorial Hall.

“The big advantage is that it will provide greater space for our growing community and provide the district’s first dedicated children’s library, together with a lending library, other community resources and parking,’ Mr Geddes said.

The current library space would be used to relocate council staff that were housed at present in five different premises.

“The advantage of that will be to remove council’s exposure to rent increases on those spaces and a far greater efficiency in staff operations,” he said.

The project could only proceed on the basis that it was relatively cost neutral and provided improved service and amenity to the community.

“The Council is fully aware of the need to demonstrate ‘value for money’ in the years to come,” he said.

Other factors of the proposal were:

• The building is adjacent to Horne Creek with a north facing outlook and will have lift and ramp access.
• It has three floors with a total of 1100 square metres (compared with 700 square metres currently).
• The plans include a dedicated children’s library, a lending library and room for archival and community workshop space.
• Leases for five rented council offices expire from August through to December (total cost $189,515).
• AMI (building owners) have agreed to pay for the cost of the proposed new library fit out.
• The building lease would be for a minimum of 10-Years. 

If the proposal was supported by the community the new library could be operating before the end of this year.

“What we need now is for the community to have a good look at this proposal and give us feedback in the form of a submission to the Draft Annual Plan,’ Mr Geddes said.

Draft Annual Plan Submissions opened on 17 of April and provisional outline plans for the library proposal would be on display at Queenstown library and on the council website from tomorrow.

ENDS

For further information please contact Clive Geddes 03 441 0499.

By: Andrea Bunting