A project that will transform Wendouree, provide enormous community benefit and address social disadvantage has taken a major step forward.
The City of Ballarat is progressing with plans to construct the Wendouree Library and Learning Centre at Weeramar Park, at the north-west corner of Gillies and Norman streets.
The search is now under way for a Principal Design Consultant for the suburb-shaping facility, with an Expression of Interest (EOI) document now open for submission. Following the initial EOI process, the City of Ballarat will prepare a short list and formally tender for a designer early in 2025.
The proposed development, in approximate terms, is for a 2,700 square-metre double story building offering:
- a comprehensive library
- City of Ballarat customer service
- a Visitor Information Centre service point
- Parent Place services
- a maker space
- community study
- activity and relaxation spaces
- a café area with free Wi-Fi.
The construction of the facility is estimated to cost $23 million and is classified as a Tier 1 Project in the City of Ballarat's Advocacy Priority Projects Pipeline.
The City of Ballarat will continue lobbying both the Federal and State governments as part of a three-way partnership to secure funding to help deliver the project, with the hope of construction commencing in 2026.
City of Ballarat Director Community Wellbeing, Matt Wilson said the Wendouree Library and Learning Centre was crucial to cater to the needs of a growing city.
The current Wendouree Library operates out of the Stockland Shopping Centre and is severely constrained by several factors including size, no possibility for further expansion, no open entry into the shopping centre, only one entry/exit and offering no toilet facilities for staff or patrons.
The new modern flexible library and learning centre would serve the community for at least the next half century.
It would be a vibrant and active place for lifelong learning, community interaction and social connection, as much as a place for reading and quiet contemplation.
"This project is going to be transformational for Wendouree and surrounding suburbs, both existing and in the future growth area to the north, and is one of the most important projects of community infrastructure in our forward plans for the city," Mr Wilson said.
"With the Northern Growth Area set to pave the way for 7000 new dwellings, while Ballarat also continues to expand westwards, this facility will service the needs of tens of thousands of people.
"Just this year we saw the completion of the Ballarat central library redevelopment and witnessed the impact of rejuvenating that facility - now we set our sights on Wendouree.
"We look forward to working closely with the State and Federal governments to attain funding to construct this vital facility and continue the co-investment into this part of our city."
The entire 1.25-hectare open space at Weeramar Park is owned by the City of Ballarat, with an upgrade of the park to be aligned with the project.
The City of Ballarat will begin the next phase of community engagement early in 2025, enabling the community to further understand and contribute to the vision of the Wendouree Library and Learning Centre.
