There seemed to be relief rather than celebration in the public gallery when councillors voted at the August Central Coast Council meeting to save the 1969-built Gosford Library.
But the celebrations began immediately on social media.
Dozens of community groups posted the news that the building they had campaigned to save will not be demolished.
Council took the unusual step of releasing a press statement at 9.45pm while the meeting was still underway.
“Council resolved unanimously to retain the existing Gosford Library, and to explore options for its use in the future,” Council said.
“The decision follows extensive community consultation and the strong support to retain the building.
“As part of the adopted resolution Council will maintain the building, undertaking feasible remediation works that may be required to be done to ensure such things as safety and accessibility, while an EOI (Expression of Interest) is developed.”
Councillor Kyle MacGregor thanked community groups for making their voice heard.
He said it was not the final step in a long process.
“It is very important people stay engaged and keep on top of it,” he said.
The decision included plans to investigate State heritage listing and to apply for local heritage listing.
Team Central Coast Councillor Kyla Daniels posted on social media that the vote was unanimous and that Council would now look for ways to repurpose the building “so that it can continue to be a part of this amazing city that is on track to regain her former glory”.
“Congratulations to all who campaigned, signed petitions, spoke out publicly and believed that both old and new buildings have their place alongside each other,” Daniels said.
Two residents had spoken during the public forum held before the council meeting.
Zina Harije explained that she has lived in Gosford all her (young) life.
Then she started recounting all the public buildings the Coast has lost in Gosford, starting with her primary school on the waterfront which is now a private development site with multiple apartment towers planned and under construction.
She mentioned the demolished Broadwater hotel and the uncertain future of the Gosford council building, which until recently had been earmarked for sale to the State Government for relocation of Gosford TAFE.
“Younger Gosford residents understand the irony of the tag Gossy Good Times,” Harije said.
“Where exactly are Gosford residents supposed to create those good times, those memories of place, culture, purpose and community?
“Why can’t we proudly preserve at least one part of Gosford’s history in the form of the existing, architecturally recognised library building?”
Resident Gary Jackson also spoke.
“If Council is in such a desperate need for green space in Gosford, convert the ill-fated tidal pool on the waterfront,” he said.
“That area is at least three times larger than the library site.”
Built in 1969, the library closed this week as the countdown began to the opening next week of the new regional library across the road.
Council, while under administration, had resolved to demolish the Kibble Park building to make more open space.
Councillors, elected almost a year ago now, voted to review that decision.
This week’s decision included demolishing the nearby Parkhouse building to create more green space in Kibble Park.
It is separated from the library by a car park that is also earmarked to be removed for more open space.
The irony that our leading regions culture makers are now forced to pay commerical rent around the corner to have their volunteers fix gosford – this building should be utelised by FUnhaus factory who have more than proven what they can achieve for our community ! Bring it on
I’m a fan of heritage architecture for city scales, but the library is not interesting at all.
Gosford needs more open plan and the old library blocks the green space and entrance to the new library.
I think it subtracts from Gosford CBD and removing it for a better walkable and open plan city is the correct choice.