Shellharbour City Council will spend almost $6 million to build a controversial new library in Warilla.
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The city’s councillors have awarded the contract to construct the new facility – on the corner of Woolworths Avenue and Commerce Drive, behind Warilla Grove – to Sydney-based company Patterson Building Group.
The specifics of the contract were discussed behind closed doors at Tuesday night’s meeting, but the council revealed it had entered into a contract with the company for the sum of $5,615,805 (including GST).
The new library will replace the existing facility on New Lake Entrance Road.
“I think we’ve long talked about the Warilla library; it’s a service we need to provide and it’s one we need to build,” Cr John Murray told the meeting.
“It’s taken a long time to get to the point we are now and of course the costs have gone up and if we sit around for another three years they’ll keep going up, so I’d recommend that we get on and build it because I think the people of Warilla deserve it.”
All councillors voted in favour of the contract being awarded, except Kellie Marsh and Peter Moran.
In December, 2014, Keith Fletcher Park was chosen as the preferred site for the new library.
A year ago, councillors approved plans for the facility, despite concerns about flooding and growing costs. At that time, the budgeted cost was $3.64 million.
Flood concerns have been a major sticking point for community members against the plans.
However, council staff said the flood risks were defined as “low” and that the structure would be able to withstand the forces of floodwater.
Read more: Warilla library planned for flood-prone site