New plans for Sanctuary Point Library

A new design in line with a smaller scope and targeted budget could see the long-awaited district library in Sanctuary Point progress closer to realisation, when it is considered by Council on Tuesday 15 April. 

Plans for a larger-scale library were paused in March 2024 as part of a series of measures taken to address Council’s financial position. Principal architects for the project, Brewster Hjorth Architects (BHA), were then tasked with the redesign that takes inspiration from Warilla Library which they delivered in 2019. 

Acting Director City Services, Kevin Norwood said despite the project being scaled down from a prominent two-storey building to a single-storey pavilion, the rescoped library would still meet residents’ needs and provide certainty for the community. 

“With more than 30,000 residents in the area, Sanctuary Point and surrounding Bay and Basin communities have well and truly outgrown their current building and are desperate for a new facility that will see them into the future,” Mr Norwood said. 

“We know we can build great things on a restricted budget and we’re keen to explore BHA’s feasibility study and investigate the features of this new design as a very viable solution,” he said. 

The new Sanctuary Point Library is proposed to be built on the corner of Kerry Street and Paradise Road, a prominent location in the village centre and an easy walk to the shops and cafes. Other features of the new library include: 

• Ability to house a collection of 15,000 items  

• An increase in floor space from 141 sqm to approximately 775 sqm + courtyard 

• A children’s library and youth area 

• Bookable spaces 

• Sheltered courtyard 

• Entry lounge and help desk with overview of facility 

• Improved parking  

• Enhanced connectivity between Paradise Beach Road and Kerry Street retail precincts 

• A forecourt and library entrance on Kerry Street 

• Public art. 

The proposed budget for the redesigned Sanctuary Point library project is $15 million.  

BHA’s feasibility design report outlines in detail the concept design investigations in response to the project brief and budget strategy prepared by Council’s project team. Funding is expected to come from a combination of state and federal government grants and other sources. 

The design will require further development and community engagement if it is to proceed. It is possible the library could be delivered by the end of 2029 if the rescoped project is pursued. Councillors will decide whether to continue with the investigation into the feasibility study at the meeting on Tuesday 15 April 2025. The report can be found on Council’s website.