MATTERS OF INTEREST

MOUNT GAMBIER

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for State/Local Government Relations) (15:23): I recently visited Mount Gambier for a meeting of the South East Local Government Association. It is always a pleasure to meet our local government representatives, and it is clear to me that the South East Local Government Association is enthusiastically looking towards the future, in close partnership with its member communities.

In Mount Gambier, for example, a three-stage redevelopment intended to revitalise three significant sites in the city centre in the period up to 2015 is well underway. One of these projects, the library and community centre, is already very much part of life at the Mount. On the August afternoon when I revisited the building and its environs, they were busy with people of all ages enjoying the facilities, engaging with each other, and making use of the enormous variety of resources.

In noting the community's real pride in its library, I want to acknowledge the vision of Cathryn Harris, who is responsible for much of what has been created there. Cathryn, the facilities manager, is driven by a desire to change the traditional perception of libraries, and the result of her work, in close association with Mount Gambier City Council, is evident in the state-of-the-art multipurpose building that now draws the city to its doors. This award-winning facility is not only a regional success story but, in fact, a shining example of what can be achieved with the sort of skill and innovation which South Australian is so renowned.

The Mount Gambier Library has been transformed into a lively example of the best of sustainable design and construction, while referencing the unique local environment and incorporating the work of some of our state's most illustrious creators. Some of those references and design features include a stunning 15-metre long interior limestone wall specially finished to expose underground geology, and a skillion roof structure supported by 10 gigantic red gum timber columns. Glassed sections are designed to take the greatest advantage of light and manage extremes of temperature for best environmental effect.

The acoustic specialists have ensured that, in this busy, lively space, noise transfer is minimised. Architects Brown Falconer and builder Kennett collaborated with Jam Factory artisans in the creation of freestanding and built-in pieces. Meanwhile, in line with the themes 'learn, connect, explore', the new facility offers an array of resources organised around themes or subjects.

Multimedia resources and IT training suites complement theme spaces—a local history room, a youth lounge and, of course, the cafe, which brings the experience of a bookshop into the library space. Readings and performances augment the community's use of a number of flexible meeting spaces. The weekend markets, held under and adjacent to the terrace, bring residents and visitors from far and near.

The outstanding facility was funded by the City of Mount Gambier and the federal government under its Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Program. As mayor Steve Perryman noted when he and Senator Dana Wortley opened the library on 17 November 2009, more than 100 jobs were created during the library's construction and post-completion stages.

Around 31 local companies were contracted and a number of new, ongoing jobs were created to staff the facility. Some 7,000 visitors passed through the library on its opening day, and over 18,000 visitors visited in the first week. In the first full month in operation (January 2010) over 43,000 people passed through the doors. This represents an increase in attendance of 400 per cent.

The library represents a tremendous outcome for the communities of the South-East, and I urge all members when visiting the Mount to see for themselves what has been achieved. In closing, I would like to congratulate the Mount Gambier council, the architects, builders and tradespeople, the craftspeople and the artists, the library staff and volunteers and the community as a whole.

I pay tribute to Cathryn Harris, whose energy and enthusiasm has been a catalyst for this important project. It is a good news story, and just as welcome is the news that Cathryn recently received the Telstra SA Business Woman of the Year Innovation Award for 2011 for her work in making the new library happen. Congratulations, Cathryn.