Innovative spaces for children, lots of natural lighting and safe parking are among the ideas for Gore’s new library and redeveloped James Cumming Wing.

A wide range of ideas and issues have been put forward over the last couple of weeks, after the Gore District Council asked people for their aspirations for the new community hub.

The Government recently decided to give $3 million towards the project.

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The Mataura Valley Milk development contribution is $958,000 and the council has also set aside $1.1 million in its 10-Year-Plan to re-roof the library, which may be redirected to this project.

All the ideas and feedback have been provided to the project team and architects. 

The next step will be producing draft designs for further community feedback.

Construction work is expected to begin in early 2021 and finish the following year.

The redevelopment will completely overhaul the James Cumming Wing to accommodate the library’s book collection and create contemporary, appealing community rooms and spaces.

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Gore district mayor Tracy Hicks said many small clubs and community activities were displaced when the Gore library had to suddenly relocate to the James Cumming Wing, after the discovery of toxic black mould and asbestos last year.

A few months later council administration staff also moved into the wing so work could commence on an upgrade to the administration building.

“We want to make sure we can welcome as many of the displaced groups as possible back into a new fit for purpose community hub,” Mr Hicks said.

“The funding is tied to the JC Wing. While not everyone agrees it’s the right location for the library, we need to remember it is money for two significant community assets – the library and the wing – that ratepayers won’t have to front up with.”

Gore district librarian Lorraine Weston-Webb said the project had certainly generated a lot of interest.

“It seems to be the one thing everyone wants to talk to us (library staff) about,” she said.

Comments included the need for natural lighting and creating opportunities for families to interact with the library, such as Lego and children’s play areas.

Good internet connectivity, workstations, power points and hot desks were popular ideas.

“People also wanted some aspects of the old location, such as the water feature, re-created in the new location,” she said.

Communications and marketing manager Sonia Gerken said the council’s new engagement platform Let’s Talk Kōreo Mai had enabled the council to reach far wider into the community than previously.

“We had 456 visits to the project page within two weeks and 22 contributions on our ideas tool.

“These are encouraging numbers given the short timeframe we had to gather ideas and that this platform is a new way for people to engage with the

council.”

There were also two community workshops. Among the main points to come from the workshops were people’s desire for a flexible large area, and warm community spaces.

“It’s as much about creating the right atmosphere. One suggestion was to have a piano in the foyer as a way to bring people together,” Mrs Gerken said.

More project details online: https://lets.talk.goredc.govt.nz/gore-library-and-community-space-redevelopment