It would appear that none of the vocal minority are of a younger generation, live within the Gosford CBD or will be future inhabitants of any of the new apartments that are being built here.

As a parent with young children living in an apartment, I would much rather open spaces for them to run around in and to enjoy being outside than to go from one small space to another old small space.

Young children don’t want to visit the same fossil or amateur art exhibition every weekend. They want space to run and play.

As for the cost, if the building was to be heritage listed it would require a DA to change its use from a library to any other function. This would then be required to go to the Local Planning Panel and would trigger then requirement for all elements to be brought up to the current Australian Standards and Building Codes. This would be a far greater cost than the Demolition (approx. $500,000.00 as per council’s public listed contract register).

Gosford is full of empty commercial properties that all have for lease signs hanging in the windows. What benefit is it to the greater coast community to add more vacant space to this list?

Further investigations at the request of councillors are only costing the community more. Less than 0.5% of the Coasts population have signed a petition to save this building, and many of those have signed on the misguided idea that the library will not be replaced. This is clearly not the case with the new library currently under construction right across the road.

Those championing this crusade to save the redundant building, and the Councillors assisting them, should consider speaking to the future generations to understand what they want before speaking on their behalf.

Sometimes it is better to let go of the past to pave the best road forward for the future!