Work Begins at Geelong's Waurn Ponds Library

Work has begun on the City of Greater Geelong's new $5.3 million Waurn Ponds Library.
The two-storey library, sited next to the Leisurelink aquatic centre, will house a community hub, which allows space for community meetings, interest groups, information sessions and other community gatherings.

The library will also provide space for general library usage as well as passive areas for reading, study, community IT access, plus spaces for children and teenagers.
It will include a City of Greater Geelong shopfront, where residents will be able to access council services.

Federal Member for Corangamite Darren Cheeseman said the Waurn Ponds Library would be a terrific community asset for decades to come, stating "I believe what we are building at the new Leisurelink is a world leading community facility that genuinely brings people together from a wide range of community sport and recreation interests."

"With all the facilities of a modern library it will accommodate the growing community in Geelong's south, including Armstrong Creek."

City of Greater Geelong Mayor John Mitchell added "it won't be your standard library, but a high tech, state-of-the-art library and community hub which will cater for today's library users, and this is reflected in the building's contemporary design."

"There will be a greater emphasis on information technology and community gatherings than traditional libraries, however there will, of course, be an extensive book collection as well."

The new facility hub is being funded by the Federal Government ($3 million), the Victorian Government ($767,000) and the City of Greater Geelong ($1.52 million). The project is being managed by the City.

Geelong's aquatic facilities strategy is featured in the January/February 2011 issue of Australasian Leisure Management.