Council endorsed plans to move forward on projects that will see the redevelopment of the Hawthorn Leisure and Aquatic Centre (HALC), an upgrade of the Kew Recreation Centre (KRC), the establishment of a permanent new home for the Camberwell Library and the conversion of the Hawthorn Town Hall into a new arts and cultural space. Each project is outlined in the Long Term Financial Strategy.

The Mayor of Boroondara, Councillor Jack Wegman said last night Council agreed in principle to commence these projects and will now start the community consultation to make sure it gets the detail right.

"We promised in our Council Plan and Budget that we would invest in the community and now we are delivering on that promise," Cr Wegman said.

"These are exciting initiatives which will result in some of our tired and outdated buildings being injected with new life.

"It's also a bit of a jigsaw puzzle - we have to line up the projects in an order to make sure it all works. For instance, the work on the Camberwell Library project needs to be done before the Hawthorn Town Hall arts precinct.

"We know that these projects will have their challenges. Council will need to continue to cater for the existing community and ensure that the new developments meet expectations.

"Community consultation will be vital to achieving this outcome."

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New home for Camberwell Library

The Camberwell Centre has been earmarked as the new permanent home for the Camberwell Library. Council has allocated $17.5 million for the Camberwell Library, office and car parking project. 

Under the Camberwell project, the library and community meeting rooms is proposed to be located on the ground floor and staff accommodation on the first and second floors. There will also be additional car parking facilities for library / civic centre visitors and staff.

This project is being delivered in line with the Library Future Directions Strategy 2004 - 2014 and community consultation will commence soon to determine the key features of the new library, which potentially include:

• high tech focus, incorporating emerging library and information technology features
• local and family history area
• memorabilia displays (which will free up space in other libraries)
• community meeting rooms
• program spaces and programs
• study area/quiet spaces
• specialist children's library.

The construction on the Camberwell project is scheduled to start in 2010 and is expected to be completed by the end of 2011.

Junction Ward Councillor Jack Wegman said the Camberwell Library is one of our most important community facilities with about 100,000 visits by residents and members each year.

"This is an exciting initiative to recycle a tired and outdated building into much-needed and improved library facilities at Camberwell," Cr Wegman said.

"We've turned our disappointment over VCAT's decision at the Camberwell Railway Station, which meant a library at this site will no longer be viable, into an opportunity to adapt an existing public building into purpose-designed space.

"The benefits of community consultation on the new library will be significant. We will involve library users in the concept planning stage to ensure the new facility meets modern community expectations."

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Arts vision to become a reality

The Hawthorn Town Hall is set to be converted into a new heritage-inspired arts and cultural space!

Council's adopted Arts and Cultural Strategy 2008 - 2013, identifies "our vision is for a city of harmony where citizens can celebrate, share, express and experience a rich arts and cultural life".  It also presents the opportunity to convert the Hawthorn Town Hall into a key community cultural space.

Concepts for the Hawthorn Town Hall arts precinct are now being developed for community consultation to determine the design of the facility expected in the new year.

This project will result in the relocation of Council staff currently working in Hawthorn to above the new library in the Camberwell Centre. Council will maintain a customer service presence in Hawthorn.

Glenferrie Ward Councillor Phil Meggs said the Hawthorn Town Hall arts precinct enable Council to achieve a vision to establish Boroondara as an arts and cultural hub.

"The clear message from the community through the consultation on our arts and cultural strategy is that we need additional space for rehearsing, exhibiting and performing," Cr Meggs said.

"This is the most significant arts and cultural issue in Boroondara. The redevelopment of the Kew Court House and Police Station is well underway and is set to open as an arts incubator in September 2010.

"But that's only part of the solution. With the Town Hall Gallery already located at the site, it makes sense to look at the potential of the Hawthorn Town Hall and its conversion into an arts precinct.

"We know that there's still a lot of community consultation required to work out the details but the vision is quite inspired -the Hawthorn Town Hall is set to become Boroondara's key community cultural space and retain its civic function."

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Redeveloping Boroondara's ageing leisure and aquatic facilities

Planning for redevelopment of the Hawthorn Aquatic and Leisure Centre (HALC) and Kew Recreation Centre (KRC) is now underway and Council will be seeking community input on the design of the facility.

The Hawthorn Aquatic and Leisure Centre (HALC) is the City of Boroondara's oldest leisure and aquatic centre and the outdoor 50-metre swimming pool urgently requires attention, while the buildings that house the indoor sports stadium, gym, program rooms and amenities need to be replaced.

This means the Centre as it currently stands will be demolished and replaced with a new purpose-built facility. Council is also proposing a new and slightly wider 50-metre pool.

Glenferrie Ward Councillor Phil Meggs said the redevelopment of HALC meant the centre could better meet the needs of the whole of the Boroondara community, especially elderly and disabled residents.

"The redevelopment of the HALC is the single largest project in Boroondara and it will become a significant regional facility for the whole of the community," Cr Meggs said.

"HALC patrons have raised many concerns in recent years about the state of the facility, especially on days of soaring temperatures over summer.

"We've looked at the options and the refurbishment of the existing HALC was not feasible - the end result might have been compromised.

"The proposal agreed to by Council means that we can have a purpose-built facility that will meet the future needs as identified through the Leisure and Aquatic Centres Planning Study, which was completed last year and recognised that the evolving recreational needs of the community.

"For instance, HALC is currently unable to meet the needs of elderly and disabled patrons because of its age whereas the new facility will be purpose-built to ensure access for all abilities.

"The redeveloped HALC will create a new standard of recreation facility in the Hawthorn area for future generations to enjoy.

"This is a great local facility and along with the Hawthorn Library/Children's Services Project and the Hawthorn Town Hall Arts Precinct will give the community access to the best services locally."

The upgrade of the Kew Recreation Centre will enable the closure of the Hawthorn Leisure and Aquatic Centre, ensuring safety, cost effectiveness and minimising the construction period.

The KRC project will involve an extension to the gymnasium on the upper level and program or administration space in the lower level as well as new and expanded creche and associated outdoor play area; an extension to the program room; a new spinning room; and re-organisation of the reception/entry and cafe.

Construction of the new HALC is estimated to cost between $23 - $25 million and the works at the KRC are likely to cost about $4.3 million.

Studley Ward Councillor Phillip Healey said the popular centre would be expanded to meet the increasing demand from patrons, especially during the redevelopment of the Hawthorn Aquatic and Leisure Centre.

"Our community loves the Kew Recreation Centre because of its openness and light, and we are committed to retaining those features as we upgrade the facility to better meet increasing demand," Cr Healey said.

"We will work to keep what makes the community popular but also to add new and expanded facilities so that more residents can take advantage of it to achieve a healthier lifestyle."