The decision to move forward the build of a new $2.3million Katikati Library is being hailed as testament to council allowing the community to design its own future.
In this week's Long term Plan deliberations, Western Bay of Plenty District Council rubberstamped the new library to be built on the ‘Dunning property' between Talisman Drive and Main Road.
The existing Katikati Library and the ‘Dunning property' between Talisman Drive and Main Road, where a new library is proposed.
Council originally planned to build a new library in 2021, but with the Katikati community wanting it to happen sooner, it proposed to bring forward the new build to 2016.
Katikati Community Board chairperson Sam Dunlop says given the library is the most used in the district it is a logical move by council.
He says since 2004 the library has been under spec, at that point 10 per cent under the resource required, and has continued to grow. There are also access issues with the existing building with limited parking unless people park across the road.
Opened in 1987, the current building was built jointly by Tauranga County, Katikati Riding and Community Council, Island View/Pios Shore and Athenree Community councils.
It replaced the library in the Memorial Hall from 1955 after shifting from the town's first library in the Court House next to the Police Station in 1879.
Council received 500 submissions on the library's future during the LTP process. 273 supporting the refurbishment of the current library, 175 a new medium sized building, 29 building a large library, and 40 supporting another building option of some description.
Council's preferred option was a new medium sized building as it would be a facility that meets the community's needs at a reasonable cost.
Sam, a former Western Bay councillor, says the proposed Talisman Drive site is a perfect fit.
'The Talisman Drive project started in the 1990s, I think we roaded it in 1998. It needed a focus back there to meet the design that begun 20 years ago.
'In this term, I believe I can see a very clear move from council governing from Barkes Corner to mandating communities to design their own future.
He adds: 'It's very encouraging and positive direction that council is going.”
The existing library will be retained for community use and the ‘Blue House' that currently sits on the Dunning property will be relocated.
In 2013 council upgraded the Te Puke library – one of four Library and Service Centres in the Western Bay district along with Waihi Beach, Katikati and Omokoroa.
Together, the libraries stock more than 88,000 items for borrowing, including books, DVDs, and audio books. Library membership is free for all residents and ratepayers in the district and Tauranga City.
Information and assistance was also provided to 19,501 international and local visitors from July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2014 at the visitor centres at Katikati and Te Puke.
2 comments
a testament to having too much money?
Posted on 12-06-2015 17:19 | By Annalist
A decision to build a new library in an era when people are demonstrably doing their research on the internet and increasingly using environmentally-friendly ebooks this doesn't make sense to me. It seems that huge debt and changing needs doesn't affect this Council's decisions. Spend up, spend on.
Katikati Library
Posted on 14-06-2015 14:16 | By leighmac
I have yet to hear from anyone who thought that the Library build should be brought forward. Over 2000 people signed the "Freeze Rates" petition, this clearly shows that the people of Katikati do not want a new Library at present As the existing Library occupies a mere 25% of the total building, would it not be of benefit to tighten up the wasted space that Council and various hangers on occupy, like the duplication of toilets, a very very large baby change room, an office for the parking warden and all the other hangers on that have a cosy office, together the now non effective Community Board meeting room??
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