After years of planning and several location changes, work is finally set to begin on Tuesday, January 16 on the regional library, to be located in Donnison St.
An officially sod turning ceremony on Tuesday, January 16, Member for Robertson Gordon Reid will mark the occasion with Central Coast Council officials and representatives from North Building & Construction.
A regional library has been a long time coming.
It was once earmarked to be located in the former Kibbleplex building on Henry Parry Dr, which was bought by Gosford Council in 2011 for $11M specifically for that purpose.
At the time, Council applied for $7M in federal government funding to subsidise the purchase and agreed to redevelop the site as a regional library and smart work hub.
But by 2015, Council had had a change of heart and sold the Kibbleplex building to property developer Lederer Group for $13M amid much controversy.
A site adjacent Gosford Council chambers in Mann St was then mooted, before Council announced plans in 2018 for a major cultural precinct on a large block of land between Mann and Donnison Sts to house the library, as well as a performing arts centre, linking walkways and car parking.
But in October 2019, Council abandoned the cultural precinct plan amid fears costs could blow out to more than $200M and it was announced the regional library would be developed as a stand-alone project.
Subsequently, the site of the former Parkside building in Donnison St was chosen.
And now, following several years of design modifications and hold-ups, the building actually looks set to become a reality.
The project is being funded through a combination of federal government grant funding, a former Gosford Council special rate variation, developer contributions and proceeds from the sale of Kibbleplex.
Terry Collins
Central Coast Council is building a new library in Gosford – how wonderful – and costly. What’s wrong with the current Gosford library?? Oh by the way, due to the rain, all the potholes in my area (North Gosford) have opened again – deeper this time. Are there any council rates dollars left to fix them properly so I can get to the expensive new library without breaking an axle or a leg??