Contracts valued at more than $9 million were awarded last week for a new library at Newport and restoration works on the Williamstown Town Hall.
Devco Project and Construction Management won a $7.4million contract to build the Newport Youth, Library and Seniors Centre at Paine Reserve.
The new building and restored Mechanics Institute will incorporate a library, meeting spaces, maternal child health services, senior citizens’ facilities and youth services offices.
The council had earlier considered a proposal for people to order a book online and collect it from a chute-like system after internal research showed people were increasingly using libraries to read newspapers or go online.
Cr Angela Altair told last week’s Hobsons Bay council meeting the library had had an “interesting gestation” and the new centre would form part of an arts and cultural precinct complementing The Substation venue at Newport.
The project is being funded via council’s capital works program, with $3.8million allocated in the 2014-15 budget, of which $1.8million will be carried over to next financial year.
A further $4.46 million and $6 million have been set aside in draft budgets for the next two years. The library is expected to open in September next year.
Pirotta Services secured a $1.8 million contract for stage four refurbishment works at Williamstown Town Hall, including mechanical systems upgrades, floor underpinning and structural and water- proofing work in the basement.
Restoration of the hall, built in the Greek revival style of the 1920s, has cost about $11.8million over six years, a council report states.
Works are due to be completed by March 2016, enabling “the return of significant social and economic benefits to the community”.
