Page 3177 - Week 10 - Wednesday, 24 August 2005
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In the 2003-04 budget, this government allocated $2.5 million for a new Kippax library on the site of the existing one. This comprised $300,000 for forward design works in 2003-04 and $2.2 million in 2004-05 for the construction and fit-out. Following a proposal by the Planning and Land Authority for the redevelopment of areas at Kippax, the new site for the library was determined opposite the main entrance of the Kippax Fair shopping centre, a much better site. This new site required some additional works, and a further $1 million was approved in 2004-05 budget so that road works, a pedestrian crossing and new connections to services could be included in the project.
The new, purpose-built Kippax library is more than 3½ times bigger than the current facility, at 810 square metres. The new library includes community meeting areas, youth areas, space for additional IT resources, including free public internet access terminals, and a larger collection of library materials. It is situated so that it provides maximum opportunity for residents of the west Belconnen area to make linked visits to both the library and the shopping centre. And it is on a bus route. There are plenty of car parks in the Kippax shopping centre precinct. I also have to advise that it is fairly close to the Mama Ria pizza store, which is probably the best one in town, just by way of an ad.
The new Kippax library will be opened next Tuesday, 30 August, as Ms Porter said, by the Chief Minister, and the ACT public library has invited the whole Kippax community to attend this important event. It will be a great day for the community to finally see their dream of a state-of-the art library facility opened in west Belconnen.
In response to the findings of the Kippax and Belconnen regional services study, $595,000 of additional funds was allocated to provide for the acquisition of exciting new books, magazines and audiovisual material for the new Kippax library. In response to community consultation, done directly with interest groups and through the public calling for involvement—and this goes to the point that Dr Foskey was making; you can only approach a group of people if you have a defined group of people to approach; and the way that you do it is through public advertising of the availability of the consultation process and through local schools, which did occur—special collections of literacy and English learning resources have also been purchased.
Special attention has also been given to the young people of west Belconnen, with hundreds of new CDs, graphic novels, two listening posts and access to the latest computer software. Two multimedia PCs will offer access to software such as English as a second language learning, dream weaver, photoshop and office tools. New online services will also greatly assist with homework help.
The new library building offers a multipurpose community room that provides for a great deal of flexibility in its use by community groups. The design of the building also allows for this space to be accessed after the library is closed, therefore maximising its use by community groups. To cater for the needs of the west Belconnen area for supplementary educational opportunities, the new library also provides space for a literacy specialist who can work with one or two young people or small groups, with or without computers for assistance.
An extensive community and stakeholder consultation took place during the 2002 services study, including public meetings, visits to west Belconnen schools and
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