Shellharbour City Council has appointed architects to design a new Warilla library despite renewed concerns about flooding at the proposed site after recent heavy rain.
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Brewster Hjorth Architects were selected ahead of five other organisations and awarded a $296,000 contract to design the new library that will be constructed at Keith Fletcher Park, near Warilla Grove.
In August last year, the present Warilla library building was sold in a $4.05 million transaction that included the council's former council chambers and administration building on the corner of Lake Entrance and Shellharbour roads.
The council says $2 million from the proceeds of the sale will be put towards the new $3.64 million Warilla library development.
But the Stop the Hub community group has called on the council to explain why it plans to build the replacement library in a wetland so far away from the existing Warilla library that it is in the neighbouring suburb of Lake Illawarra.
Photographs showing the proposed site covered with water up to road level last week have been circulated.
The council said the new site was adopted by the council in December based on its "accessibility, visibility and suitability to a branch library".
The current Warilla library, which the council is now leasing from new owners, is now Shellharbour City's "central" or main library, with a new central library to be built within the proposed Shellharbour City Hub in the city centre.
Aside from flooding problems, Cr Peter Moran has raised concerns about pedestrian safety and access to the site, however Cr Paul Rankin backed the location and appointment of architects.
"It is important we get this right," Cr Rankin said, adding it was ironic that former councillors were among those complaining about the new library site while the "old building is falling down".
However, Cr Kellie Marsh said she "donned the gumboots" to inspect the site during the recent downpour.
"It was an absolute raging torrent ... there is part of the land that is built up but by no means will it be adequate," Cr Marsh said.
"Will people be offered flippers and a life raft with their membership?"
Cr Marsh said she intended to call for an extraordinary meeting to discuss a different site.
Cr Helen Stewart said though she had reservations about flooding at the site, she had to put her faith in council staff that they wouldn't put the community in harm's way.
Shellharbour mayor Marianne Saliba said problems with flooding would be addressed during the design stage and by engineers.
"Most of Shellharbour City is in a flood plain," Cr Saliba said.
"The current site has serious issues and is also sitting in a flood plain ... the current Warilla library was my youth centre as a kid and never built as a purpose-built library."
A council spokeswoman said though architects had been appointed, site works and a concept plan were on hold, pending the outcome of an investigation into the Aboriginal cultural significance of the site.
The brief to be provided to the architects will include information collated from the consultation held by library staff with the community throughout December and January, which included school students, library users and the broader community.
The council said about 620 people shared their ideas in person and 170 people completed a survey.
aarnold@fairfaxmedia.com.au