Answers to key questions: proposed new precinct for Glen Waverley

A: Yes, some residents have raised this with us. However, this is not financially feasible. The estimated cost of doing so would be about $25 million and Council simply does not have access to that kind of money. This is in contrast to what we think might be a cost neutral outcome by enabling appropriate development on part of the site.

We think that creating a combined floor area for the library and meeting spaces that is significantly bigger than the size of the current site, and incorporating a smaller town square area, is a preferable outcome that will better serve many more people in the community.

We think these are all good ideas and well worth considering further as part of the town square concept which is proposed by Council.

One option would be that it becomes a further office space for Council.

At present, Council rents a floor in the Ibis building next door to Council’s Civic Centre in Glen Waverley. This costs Council about $500,000 per annum in rent. This money could be saved if these staff were moved into the existing library and this money could be better used elsewhere to benefit the community.

Because we want to get a sense from the market of what might be feasible in relation to the site and the project. Based on our planning over the past four years, we are also convinced that this broad conceptual plan for the site is the only way to achieve a change from the status quo use of the site as a car park given the financial constraints facing Council.

What remains are answers to questions like how can the community spaces be optimally configured to appeal to the most number of residents in our community?

No, that’s why we are wanting to have further conversations with the community about how best to plan for these community spaces.

Council will consult the community further over the next few months to refine the requirements for the community spaces envisaged for the site (the public square, library and community meeting spaces).

At the conclusion of the EOI process, Council will consider which (if any) participants in the process should be invited to submit more formal proposals for the site. Ultimately, should it prove feasible to proceed and if Council wishes to do so, Council will then instigate a formal process to consider the sale of part of the land to a third party.

The Local Government Act mandates that certain processes would then need to occur including a fully transparent community consultation process prior to Council making a decision on whether or not to proceed.