Two new community libraries on track for Christchurch

4 August 2004

Christchurch City Councils' plans for two new community libraries, at Parklands and Upper Riccarton, are on track for completion next year.

Funding for the two new facilities was confirmed by their inclusion in the Council's long-term council community plan, which was adopted on 30 June.

Resource consent applications for changes in land-use at both sites will be publicly notified this month.

Parklands - Concept designs show new library from redeveloped church

The concept design for a new library at Parklands will be presented by Council architect, Crispin Schurr, at a public meeting on Tuesday 10 August.

The Council's Community Libraries Manager Nicki Moen says the concept design shows a radical redevelopment of the former North Brighton Baptist Church building, which was built in 1978.

"The building will become a modern library where services will be delivered from a flexible adaptive, stimulating and dynamic space" says Nicki Moen.

The concept design for the new Parklands library was informed by suggestions from the community regarding what people wanted from their new library.  Input was sought from specific groups, including teenagers, primary school pupils, parents and pre-schoolers, as well as from the wider community.

The public meeting will be held from 7.30pm to 8.30pm, Tuesday 10 August, at 46 Queenspark Drive (in the former North Brighton Baptist Church building, beside the shopping centre). The plans will also be available, from 11 August, on the Council's libraries website http://library.christchurch.org.nz/parklands/.

It is hoped that the new library at Parklands will open in May 2005.

Upper Riccarton - Plans well developed

 Plans for the new community and school library at Upper Riccarton are now well developed and available for viewing on the Council's libraries website at http://library.christchurch.org.nz/UpperRiccarton/

The new library at Upper Riccarton is a joint venture between Christchurch City Council and Riccarton High School, and will serve about 30,000 residents from the Riccarton, Avonhead, Ilam, Sockburn, Wharenui and Wigram communities. The Library will also be the Learning and Information Centre for the Riccarton High School, population of 950 students and 75 staff.

The new library at Upper Riccarton is designed by Warren and Mahoney. It is hoped that construction will begin in early 2005 and the library will open in December 2005.

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