Yarraman Library Upgrades
Community outcomes
New state-of-the-art Toowoomba City Library
The impressive, $24.5 million Toowoomba City Library
opened to the community this year, allowing greater
access to services, literary and historical assets and
capacity as a community meeting space. Not only
is the facility striking from the outside, with a copper
panel façade and a north-facing glass wall, it also
has an impressive interior featuring 6,800m2 of floor
space, with a purpose-built, climate-controlled area
for the correct storage of important archival materials
and remarkable art pieces throughout the building.
The building is not only architecturally extraordinary,
it also houses more than 320 tier-one solar panels;
making it as ‘green’ as it is copper. The panels will be
able to produce around 131,400 kWh (kilowatt-hours)
of electricity a year. The Environmentally Sensitive
Designed (ESD) building has a number of other green
initiatives including:
• High performance glazing to reduce the solar gain
in the building, coupled with external and internal
sun shading
• Use of LED lighting to reduce power consumption
• A bio-retention system to pond and treat
stormwater
• Installation of two in-ground water tanks providing
52,000 litres of water for use on the grounds.
The new facility is also home to end-of-trip cycle
facilities, public-access computers, a digital hub,
free Wi-Fi and greater accessibility for people with
a disability. The conference rooms on level three
contain new community meeting rooms including
seminar rooms and capacity for theatre-style use.
Civic Square and City Hall Annexe
Stage 1 of the Civic Square (behind City Hall bounded
by Herries, Victoria and Little Streets) was completed
this year, with the provision of outdoor art in the form
of a central floral sculpture, landscaped gardens and
perimeter paths, a bubbling water feature, seating and
tables, shaded areas, and an open green space just
waiting for community activation. The space is a ‘blank
canvas’ for the community to host events, regular
markets and relax in green, open-air tranquillity.
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CHAPTER 4 Our goals
Behind the new Civic Square, the first stage of
restoration works planned for the Toowoomba City
Hall Theatre and Annexe Project were completed this
financial year, with strategic demolition and stripping
back of the interior. Through the engagement of a
team of experienced conservation architects, the
works will preserve and maintain the historically
significant aspects of the building. These works
adhere to the conditions approved by the Department
of Environment and Heritage Protection and will
protect the cultural heritage values within the theatre.
This includes protection of existing brickwork and
limitations on the type of materials that can be
removed. The finished interior will be a reconstruction
of the 1930s scheme, encompassing and highlighting
the original features revealed during demolition works.
The new space will have a flat floor and Council
aims to reinstate the balcony and stage proscenium.
Combined with the new library and upgraded Civic
Square precinct, opening up the rear of City Hall will
create a vibrant space for the community. This project
is expected to be completed
in mid-2017.
Upgrades to the Yarraman Library
This year saw the closure of the Yarraman Library
in preparation for upgrades to enhance the facility
and update the look and feel of the building. The
works to be completed include upgrades to the
accessibility of the facility, including access to car
parking and improvements to the public toilets. A new
reading lounge area, free Wi-Fi and the ability to be
converted into a disaster coordination centre for the
town (if needed) will ensure the changing needs of
the community will be reflected in the design of the
building. The upgrades will see historic aspects of the
building maintained, with modern, adaptable elements
supporting the future of the Yarraman community.
Improvements and upgrades to five regional
war memorials
Remembering our history and honouring those that
have contributed to the liveability of our region,
is a key focus of Council. This year saw minor
improvements completed at three State heritage
listed war memorials, as well as two larger projects to
restore State heritage-listed memorials at Westbrook
and Greenmount. This work was completed after
Council successfully applied for grant funding through
TOOWOOMBA REGIONAL COUNCIL Annual Report 2015 - 2016