The development of Greerton's new library is a step closer with Tauranga City councillors selecting a sub-committee to oversee the design and planning processes.
Councillors John Robson, Gail McIntosh, Bev Edlin and Bill Grainger were chosen for the committee at Wednesday's City Delivery Committee.
Building of the new Greerton Library is step closer after the formation of a council sub-committee yesterday.
The councillors' first task will be approving the design parameters for the new $3.5 million library. There are also tasked with providing feedback on the draft Principles Requirements – the instructions building designers work from.
The new committee launched with accompanying advice and well wishes from other councillors, with Rick Curach asking the members to focus on function rather than form.
Mayor Stuart Crosby advised the new committee against interfering with the design-build process.
TCC asset delivery manager Howard Severinsen says three construction companies have been selected for consideration from the 13 responses to the council's registration of interest request. These are Arrow, Fletcher and Marra.
Once the Principles Requirements are confirmed by the committee, they will be put to the finalists to come up with a design pitch.
Council property manager Antony Averill says TCC is in discussions with Plunket over the neighbouring site at 137 Greerton Road, which council wishes to sell.
Plunket is the current tenant on that site and Anthony believes the section will be sold before December 2014.
A land use consent will be required for the new library as there is no on-site car parking on what is a commercially zoned site.
The new Greerton Library, given the go-ahead by Tauranga City councillors in June this year, is expected to be 900m2 in area, and cost $3.45 million.
It is scheduled for opening by the end of November 2015.
Members of the Greerton community have petitioned for it for 21 years.
8 comments
The irony?
Posted on 21-08-2014 11:41 | By YOGI BEAR
Library use is dropping rapidly by what manager Jill has reported to Councilors yet the match is on to build a building that will be of absolutely no use to anyone in less than 10 years. Sounds like the perfect criteria for TCC to leap in 10 fold ...
Let's hope they procrastinate
Posted on 21-08-2014 13:28 | By Annalist
There's no need for this huge expense. Times are changing and we don't need an expanded empire. I wonder how much money will get wasted on arguments over design etc? Money from property sales should repay debt, not fund extravagances.
New building
Posted on 21-08-2014 14:55 | By Clover Green
A positive may be that at least it is a new building and hopefully they will be building new technology into it so it may, in time, become a great tech hub for people in the future. Libraries have to change with the times so with help from the community lets hope they achieve this over time
lots of passion but bit of a waste
Posted on 21-08-2014 16:49 | By Calm Gully
There seems to be lots of passion from the committee. Usually projects like this are to benefit future generations, BUT as YOGI mentions an extended library will be of no benefit Seems a big expenditure for little reward down the track, which is a bit/lot of waste.
Idiocy Personified
Posted on 21-08-2014 19:54 | By ROCCO
My god it looks like the Dads Army brigade and question is how many will survive until the dinosaur is built and is operational.What a complete waste of time and TCC ratepayers money.
Library v Internet cafe
Posted on 21-08-2014 20:26 | By YOGI BEAR
Say 10 years from now, spot the difference? You guessed it, none.
Congratulations
Posted on 21-08-2014 23:55 | By How about this view!
Well done to the elderly newspaper readers. Somewhere warm to go during the winter and cool in the summer no doubt. Fair play to them though, another minority group successfully spending other peoples money as is the way of things around the country. It would be cheaper for the council to supply the whole city with free broadband internet access so that we can all read books, magazines and newspapers from our own home. In fact we could all access museum collections from around the world as well, so that could be another sizable saving.
Libraries in 10 years
Posted on 31-08-2014 12:53 | By YOGI BEAR
A row of I-pads, a few desks with a newspaper stand with todays editions and perhaps the back log for the week. A few old style rockers around the tables ... and wait for it ... 20 staff because that what happens at TCC.
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