By Jaidyn Kennedy
Wyndham council says it needs more money from the state government to build two new libraries and expand existing facilities, an investment that a Truganina resident says is urgently needed.
Mayor Mia Shaw said council has plans to construct two new libraries over the next 10 years.
She said a library cost about $30 million to deliver, with the cost split 50/50 between council and the state government in the past, but the majority of cost had been shifted back on to council.
“Over the years, the state’s contribution has declined to just 17 per cent, leaving councils to cover the remaining 83 per cent,” Cr Shaw said.
“This cost-shifting has got to stop. Why should ratepayers be forced to fund essential community infrastructure like libraries and aquatic centres?”
Truganina resident Jawad Muhammed said the Truganina Library Lounge, the closest library facility to his house and also the existing facility council said needed the most upgrading, is too small and lacks the resources his five children need to study.
He said that due to the lack of a viable library service in the suburb, he has to drive his five children to either the Tarneit or Point Cook libraries.
“There’s too much traffic on the roads and both the libraries are about 15 minutes drive away from Truganina centre to begin with,” he said.
According to Mr Muhammed, the growing population of the region and cultural diversity among the youth makes the investments even more urgent.
“Nowadays, kids need books to read in order to help them improve their vocabulary – especially if English is not their first language.
“We need more libraries and they need to be bigger, because they are good spaces, they are safe, and that means our kids are doing productive things.”
A state government spokesperson said financial support to councils had increased by $161 million this year.
According to the government, Wyndham has received $2.45 million from Living Libraries Infrastructure Program for four projects since 2015 – the expansion of Hoppers Crossing library, Truganina Community Centre, Wyndham mobile library van and the Point Cook library expansion – and $14.66 million under the Public Libraries Funding Program.
