Gilgandra Shire Council have announced a promising next step towards setting up a local library hub for their region.

At council's July meeting, a Development Application (DA) for the project - valued at almost $3 million - was approved.

Council Mayor Doug Batten said the project was a key goal in the 2019 Gilgandra Activation Blueprint, its planned outline for the area's future socioeconomic opportunities.

“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to repurpose a potentially otherwise vacant building to a community asset that will include library services, co-working spaces, learning, cultural expression, community and business rooms and outdoor space,” Mayor Batten said.

“There has been community consultation conducted over many months and this, along with the vision for the project to become a strong, modern centrepiece in the heart of Gilgandra, has been taken into account by council in its determinations.”

A concept design of the planned GIL Library Hub which Gilgandra Shire Council hopes will become a centrepiece for the local community. Image supplied by Gilgandra Shire Council.

According to the mayor, the new hub will be in the same building once occupied by its former largest retailer Target Country, which council purchased in 2019 with the aim to activate Gilgandra's CBD.

It was not all smooth sailing for the proposal and councillors considered a petition - signed by 730 community members - referring to ‘Save our Public Toilets’ as part of the plaza upgrades with this project.

However, Mayor Batten said council decided to renew the public toilets based on the inclusion and opportunity of the adjoining plaza space in the project.

“It is important to note that the new public toilets will be only metres from the current amenities and will be accessible from the plaza," he said.

"This will create an opportunity to open up this space through to the river and complement existing activation initiatives, giving more reasons for people to stop, stay and enjoy Gilgandra.

"This new space allows for an overall plaza upgrade to incorporate additional trees, seating, shade, stage area for events, outdoor access to power and services and additional street art and community signage.”

Council has received grant funding through the NSW Government’s Your High Street program to deliver this outdoor space.

According to council General Manager David Neeves, public access to the toilets will remain from the plaza, and will remain available after normal business hours.

“Further, there will be provision made to access public amenities throughout the duration of the construction period until access to the new amenities are made available,” Mr Neeves said.

Council will soon be moving into the procurement stage of the GIL Library Hub project by engaging a contractor for the construction elements.

It is anticipated that a contractor will be appointed in the latter half of 2021, with construction expected to begin in early 2022.