Work on a $4.6 million community hub in Footscray could begin as early as next June.
The final design of the hub, an expansion of the existing library on Paisley Street, was presented to Tuesday’s Maribyrnong council meeting.
The council has allocated $1.5 million to the project in the current budget, while a further allocation of $3.35 million is expected in the 2016-17 budget.
The project will consolidate the library and a new building to be built to the east into a hub with a new entrance.
The design includes a function room for 206 people, three meeting rooms and a private room for prayer and breast-feeding, as well as a reception area, kitchen and retention of the existing library courtyard.
“It is considered the design provides for a range of user groups and functions and suitably integrates with the existing library,” a council report states.
The main function room will open up into the existing courtyard and be able to be divided into two 70-seat rooms to cater for groups such as the Footscray Senior Citizens, which was forced out of its former home on Buckley Street in 2011 after 35 years to make way for the Regional Rail Link.
Community consultation will include a forum, meetings with existing user groups and displays at the library.
A report on the consultation outcomes and development of a final design will be presented to Council in February.
Works are due to go to tender in April with a building contractor to be appointed in June.
