Deputy Premier visits new cultural centre site

The Deputy Premier Paul Lucas was in Gatton recently to address various issues in the region and looked at the site for the new cultural centre at Lake Apex.
Gatton Shire Council is receiving $3 million from the State Government’s Q150 funding to construct a new library/art gallery/truck museum/visitor information centre. This funding is one of the largest allocations to a local government in Queensland to celebrate Queensland’s 150th birthday in 2009.
Further funding is also coming from the State Government due to the prison being located in Gatton Shire. It is anticipated that the total project cost will be subsidised almost entirely by the State Government.
Whilst many Councillors would have ideally liked to have seen the new cultural centre built in the CBD area of Gatton, a building of the size and prominence of the one planned could not be accommodated in this area.

In agreeing to place the library complex at Lake Apex, library staff have undertaken to look at extending the at home service for the elderly and to provide a drive through service. The present library position in the CBD does not cater for parking needs, particularly for the disabled. The current library was undersized 10 years ago and the Shire population has increased dramatically since then. The new library and art gallery will more than double in size.

Contrary to recent media reports Council has not ignore the majority of residents in making the decision on the library location. It has only ever received a few letters of concern and one petition numbering about 2% of the Shire’s total population. A good number of those were from outside the Shire with some 70% of the names listed being either non-library members or non-Shire residents.
It is anticipated that construction on the new cultural centre complex will commence very soon and it is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

Thanks to Janice Holstein and The Withcott Times Online (www.withcotttimes.com.au) March edn for this story.