By Casey Neill
The new Springvale Library has received a $750,000 boost.
Keysborough MP Martin Pakula announced the Living Libraries Infrastructure Program grant on Monday 10 April.
He said the library would be modern and environmentally sustainable with a dedicated youth area, meeting and program rooms, a secure outdoor reading space and a technology lab.
“Libraries are a key part of every community – they bring people together and help us to connect and learn,” Mr Pakula said.
The building will have more than twice the floor space of the current library.
Visits to the library are expected to increase by up to 80 per cent, or more than 270,000 visits each year.
The new Springvale Library will be part of a broader $32 million City of Greater Dandenong project to transform the former council chambers site into a community hub.
Greater Dandenong Mayor Jim Memeti said every dollar helped.
“We’re very grateful for any help we can have,” he said.
He said works on the library were due to start this time next year and be completed about June 2020.
“I’m happy the Springvale end of things is starting to take off,” he said.
“We’re balancing the funds throughout the city.”
Cr Memeti said the old Dandenong Library site attracted 7000 people each week, and this had skyrocketed to 20,000.
“Once we build these new libraries, modern libraries, more people want to come and learn and meet people,” he said.
“It brings the community together.
“We’re hoping the same thing will happen in Springvale.
“It’s built for the community.”
