Community consultation needed for Yarrawonga Town Hall Precinct

Published on 29 March 2018

Moira Shire Council is asking the community for feedback on the future development of the Yarrawonga Town Hall Precinct and the Yarrawonga Library.

The existing Yarrawonga Library Site was identified as inadequate to meet both the current and the expected 10 year growth population.

Cr Peter Mansfield said in response to this the Yarrawonga Library Project Steering Committee, made up of councillors, council staff, library officers and community groups, was established with the aim of sourcing a new site for the library with the assistance of appointed consultants, Urban Enterprise.

"The Yarrawonga Town Hall Precinct is a significant asset in Yarrawonga and was identified as the priority site for the location of the new library," Cr Mansfield said.

"In its current state the Town Hall Precinct is an ageing site which is in need of improvements to allow the buildings to reach their potential and make it accessible to all members of the community.

"The need of a new library has created an exciting opportunity to make the Yarrawonga Town Hall Precinct a more user-friendly and dynamic space.

"To fund a new library Council would seek a grant which is specific for building libraries, the existing library site would be sold and additional grants will also be sought.

"In addition the community may even have the opportunity to contribute."

There are three options Council would like feedback on –

 Option A – involves two largely independent stages. Stage 1 includes demolishing the Community Hall and Old Kindergarten building. A new library would be built at the rear of the Yarrawonga Town Hall. The second stage, contingent on securing further external funding, would involve refurbishment of the Town Hall.

 Option B – Includes the redevelopment of the Yarrawonga Town Hall so that the library would be within the building. The community hall would remain. The old Kindergarten buildings would be demolished for redevelopment of the site, including a car-park.

 Option C – Includes the redevelopment of the Yarrawonga Town Hall so that the library would be within the building. The community hall and old Kindergarten buildings would be demolished for redevelopment of the site, including a car-park.

"There is a survey available on our website which we are asking people to complete," Cr Mansfield said.

"The survey closes at 5pm on Friday 27 April.

"Yarrawonga Neighbourhood House has offered to help people to fill out this survey online if they need assistance.

"All feedback received will then form part of a report to inform the Precinct Master Plan.

"This Master Plan will then be presented to the community for more feedback to make sure Council has understood what the community wants."